The prospect of a third crossing over the River Suir is back on the agenda in Waterford, after councillors raised the issue at this month’s plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Independent Councillor Donal Barry asked when the findings of a strategic assessment report – examining the feasibility of a new bridge to the east of the city – would be made public. He said the project would be “a very important development for Waterford city and county,” even if it is not currently included in the National Development Plan.

Senior Engineer for Roads Gabriel Hynes confirmed that the crossing remains part of the Waterford Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (WMATS), but said the National Transport Authority wants priority given to other projects such as public transport, cycling, walking and BusConnects schemes.

“Waterford City’s population of around 60,000 is expected to grow by 50% by 2040,” Hynes said. “That brings serious challenges in terms of transport. From discussions with the NTA, their preference is to deliver some of the sustainable travel schemes first, and then look at commissioning funding and assessment into the third river crossing.”

Hynes added that the Executive would prefer the project to move forward sooner rather than later and said councillors would receive an update at the next plenary meeting.

The discussion follows on from Waterford Council’s Capital Investment Programme published in June 2025, which included provision for a Strategic Assessment Report into a third city bridge, to accompany the existing Rice Bridge and Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge.

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