The Department for Infrastructure has told councillors that any future closure of Kilrea Bridge could cause significant traffic disruption, with no immediate alternative crossing available across the River Bann.

The bridge, which dates from 1783, was closed in September after safety inspections found extensive cracking and structural instability in a retaining wall on its south-western approach. It reopened to cars and smaller vehicles in December, but restrictions on heavier vehicles caused disruption for hauliers, local businesses and through traffic.

At a meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council in November, DfI Roads officials faced questions about the bridge's resilience. Ulster Unionist councillor Richard Holmes asked whether the inspection schedule had been reviewed and whether there was a contingency plan for a catastrophic failure.

Divisional Roads Manager Alan Keys said bridges undergo detailed inspections every seven years, with intermediate inspections every one or two years. He identified scour - erosion of material around bridge foundations by flowing water - as a particular concern for structures like Kilrea Bridge, but said the latest inspection showed no concerns on that issue.

When pressed on a Plan B, Keys said the department would follow a similar approach to the previous closure: try to get repairs done as quickly as possible while diverting traffic. He acknowledged that disruption is magnified at Kilrea because the nearest crossings are quite some distance away, and said the department is not in a position to have something ready to go on site.

No immediately deployable alternative crossing was identified during the discussion.

Kilrea Bridge remains a critical transport link for the town and surrounding area.