A group of Dublin residents has blocked the building of a railway bridge by Iarnród Éireann because they say the company has refused to sign a legally binding agreement with them.
The North Strand Community Action Group (NSCAG) says it will block the Stoney Road section of construction on the East Wall road replacement railway bridge until agreement is reached.
But Iarnród Éireann spokesman Mr Barry Kenny told ireland.comhe hoped a draft agreement between residents and the company would be signed "as quickly as possible". He said: "We regret that residents feel the need to mount this protest".
The project - described by Mr Kenny as "safety-critical" - involves replacing a railway bridge, adding another railway track and building a concrete wall. NSCAG says the work will leave some householders, particularly on Stoney Road, in permanent darkness. Work is due to be completed at the end of September.
The group's spokeswoman, Ms Fiona Moloney said: "Irish Rail has now forced residents to maintain a 24-hour vigil to prevent machinery accessing the site.
"In good faith we took Irish Rail's word that it would sign a legally binding agreement. However, it is now perfectly clear that Irish Rail has no intention of settling this matter and merely wants to bulldoze ahead with the project in the absence of any agreement". Mr Kenny said Iarnród Éireann had agreed in writing to remove the wall when the work was done and that they had offered to do so voluntarily.
