A Killarney MD councillor says the "only hope" of upgrading Listry Bridge is that it "would collapse" and force the department into action.
That's according to independent councillor Brendan Cronin, who sought an update on the project at the recent Municipal District (MD) meeting.
He told management they were "talking about a 200-year-old [single-lane] bridge built for horse and cart" that is rapidly deteriorating.
Cllr Cronin concluded that the bridge replacement is effectively "dead in the water" because there is no funding.
Council management confirmed only Phase 1 of the four-phase project has been completed, and there is no funding for design, planning or construction.
The bridge replacement is now estimated to cost more than €7 million.
Council management told Cllr Cronin that current government funding priorities favour housing infrastructure over projects such as Listry Bridge.
Officials said Department of Transport funding is now largely directed towards roads that unlock housing development.
Cllr Brendan Cronin said he had heard "continuous repetition of reasons not to go ahead or not to push it forward".
He claimed Kerry County Council had failed to push for the project for decades.
He accused successive administrations of lacking the determination to secure funding.
Cllr Cronin said he honestly believes the only way the bridge will be replaced is if it collapses.
The council plans to proceed with interim safety measures, including electronic yield signs, lower speed limits, improved road markings and warning signs.
Even if funding were approved tomorrow, officials said a replacement bridge would still take several years.
Cllr Cronin argued that many visitors driving hire cars ignore the existing signage, accelerate to cross first, and create dangerous situations because they do not understand the warnings.
Councillor Martin Grady suggested a temporary pedestrian bridge should be considered.
