Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has called on Donegal County Council and the Department of Transport to immediately proceed with a full replacement of the Mullantyboyle Bridge in Glenties
Senator Ó Domhnaill said, “I have raised this issue a number of times on behalf of local people who are frustrated at the lack of progress in replacing this breach.
“It is almost 3 years on since the bridge collapsed during the 2010 Harvest Festival and a replacement still has not been constructed. The delays are unacceptable. It’s unfair to local residents in Mullantyboyle and leaves the village of Glenties without a ring road.
“Farmers with land on either side of the fallen bridge must travel the main road through the village to go from one side to the other. However, if the main road (N56) is blocked in the village, the only way from one end of Glenties to the other is through Ardara and Narin – a journey of about 30km.
“I have been raising the matter with Donegal County Council’s Road Service and the Minister for Transport for some time. While some funding was spent in 2012 on progressing site investigations, an options report and preparing planning documents, the funding and required works have not been delivered on.
“I am informed by the Council that an allocation of €100,000 funding is available to the project in 2013. This funding is being used to progress the design to completion, clear the old bridge deck from the river bed and complete some necessary preparation work prior to bridge construction. The Council tells me that a further allocation of approximately €675,000 will be required from the Department of Transport to complete the construction of the bridge.
“I am now calling on Donegal County Council to have all the necessary pre-construction works completed as soon as possible and a comprehensive application for funding made to the Department. I have now written again to the National Roads Authority and to the Minster for Transport requesting an early allocation so that works can commence on the project. The project will have to go to tender and it is important that this occurs without delay.”
Posted: Jun 20, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized