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€100K for Buncrana bridge design
22.03.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
DONEGAL County Council has been given the
green-light to seek a design for a new bridge at
Cockhill, Buncrana. The move came after the National
Roads Authority confirmed it had no objection to a
modernisation plan for the ageing structure.
The Council will now seek consultants to begin a
preliminary design process, which will include a
public consultation.
The design project is expected to cost in the region
of €100,000 with the overall cost set to run to
several million euro. Funding for the construction,
following the design, has not yet been secured,
however, with the Department also urging the local
authority to consider ‘short-term’ options in the
‘current economic climate’. |
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Speaking at an
Inishowen Electoral Area meeting in Carn on Monday
afternoon Fine Gael councillor John Ryan said a new
bridge at Cockhill was imperative.
"This issue has been talked about for as long as I
remember and there is still a problem regarding a
lack of funding. The last government spent money
everywhere but they forgot |
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Cockhill bridge, Buncrana. |
about us up here,” he
said.
“It may be a question of trying to have the road
upgraded to a national secondary route; maybe that
will allow us access to a different pot for funds.
The bottom line is, we are looking for a bridge here
and we need to make sure we get it.”
Fianna Fail councillor Rena Donaghey welcomed the
move to seek a design for the bridge.
“I am delighted that the NRA have no objections to
us going ahead with Cockhill Bridge. I am a little
concerned about the short-term options referred to
by the Department though,” she said.
Deputising for new TD Padraig MacLochlainn, Buncrana
Town councillor Michael Grant said a permanent
solution was needed.
"We must make sure that we get the optimum
resolution to the issue of the Cockhill Bridge even
if this means we have to wait a few years. There is
no point in throwing good money after bad on
short-term solutions,” he added. |
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