by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
A NUMBER of local bridges in a state of disrepair
will be improved as part of a 2011 strengthening
programme.
The structures set for a facelift have been placed
in order of priority in a new council list of the
worst 40. These include bridges at Balleeghan,
Manorcunningham, Meenahonner, Carn and Glentogher.
Number five in the rankings, and unlikely to be
strengthened this year due to a lack of funding,
Stranaclea bridge in the Illies, remains in poor
condition.
Speaking at an Inishowen Electoral Area meeting on
Monday, Fianna Fail councillor for the area Rena
Donaghey said she has been waiting for five years to
have the structure fixed.
“Stranaclea bridge is in really, really bad
condition. There are a number of children going to
school in the area and half the structure is gone.
This is extremely dangerous and I want to keep it
high on the agenda. I have been waiting five years
to have it fixed,” she said.
Cllr. Donaghey also expressed her disappointment
that a bridge in ‘poor condition’ across from the
Cashel Na Cor centre, near Buncrana was not included
in the priority list of forty.
Similarly, Moville councillor Martin Farren raised
the issue of McGowan’s bridge at Redcastle, which
slumped to position fourteen in the ratings, down
from number four last year.
“McGowan’s bridge is very dangerous for motorists
and there have been a number of accidents there in
recent years,” he said.
In response roads engineer Stephen Flynn said the
council had identified the bridges in order of their
condition. He said those in ‘very poor’ condition
would be strengthened this year.
“There are a number of bridges ready to collapse and
they have been prioritised. Unfortunately we only
have enough money to fix the first four on the
list,” he added.
Other bridges further down the list include:
Shroovehead, Rankins, Argony Pipe, Kinnego, Grania’s
Gap, Mary McGowan’s, Skeoge, Blanket Nook, Portaleen,
Aught and Ballymacarthur. |
