A new bridge has opened today in the tourist village of Leenane in Connemara, following the destruction of a 182-year-old bridge that was swept away during heavy flooding last week.
Traffic congestion is expected to ease with the opening of the new bridge at 1pm, although single lane traffic will be in operation and temporary traffic lights in place.
The stone-arched bridge that used to span the Lahill river in Leenane, Co Galway, on the main Clifden to Westport road, was almost completely swept away by the swollen river shortly before 5pm on Wednesday last week after several hours of heavy rain.
Residents were reported to have heard a loud crack, as one arch broke away followed by a second arch.
The small village of Leenane - known for the Killary fjord and as the setting for the film The Field- is heavily reliant on tourism for its local economy.
After the bridge's collapse last week motorists travelling on the Clifden to Westport road faced traffic diversions of up to 110 kilometres.