No funding for long-sought bridge in Leitrim as 'can is kicked down the road'

There was disappointment expressed at Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District meeting by the news that a Cantilever bridge will not be built in Rooskey for the foreseeable future.

Correspondence from the office of Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien TD was read out, confirming that the project will not receive funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) at present.

It was decided at the recent meeting that the council would again write to the NTA in relation to the need for the bridge.

Previously, there was a proposal for an Active Travel funded scheme on Rooskey bridge, which would have resulted in traffic lights being installed on the bridge and footpaths being installed/widened. A temporary trial of traffic lights on the bridge was carried out in September/October 2024.

However, this proposal was deemed unsatisfactory by the members of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District. It did not receive their support as it led to traffic disruption/delays in Rooskey.

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As a result, the funded Active Travel Scheme did not proceed.

Arising from motions by Cllr Sean McGowan (FF) and Cllr Maeve Reynolds (FG) in April 2025, correspondence was issued to the Minister for Transport and the NTA in April 2025 and again in October 2025.

This correspondence sought funding for a new Cantilever Bridge in Rooskey.

“The Department of Transport has responsibility for overall funding and policy decisions in relation to Active Travel. 

Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area,” the response from Minister Darragh O'Brien's office read.

“As a result, the Department has no involvement with the selection of projects to be funded through the NTA's Active Travel Programme,” the letter continued.

“In general, the main focus of active travel investment will be to support high quality walking and cycling infrastructure, for everyday trips, in villages, towns and cities, particularly in designated growth settlements, with a view to promoting the greatest potential modal shift to active travel,” the correspondence continued. 

The letter went on to say that the number of projects being progressed exceeded the funds available.

“Accordingly, the NTA is unable to fully fund all proposed Active Travel projects and has to prioritise certain projects over others in order to remain within its allocated budget. While a project may not be selected by the NTA for funding in a particular year, it may be funded in subsequent years,” the letter stated.

Cllr Sean McGowan (FF) described the letter as “kicking the can down the road.”

“I am disappointed with this response. However, I won't give up on a Cantilever bridge across the River Shannon in Rooskey,” the Dromod based councillor added.

“Some guy in an office in the NTA doesn't understand the bridge in Rooskey,” according to Cllr Stenson.

Cllr Enda Stenson agreed with Cllr McGowan that the NTA should be written to again as a priority.

He also posed the question, “where are Roscommon in this?” given that the bridge would border both Leitrim and Roscommon.

Justin Fannon, Director of  Services with Leitrim County Council, told the councillors that the NTA are “promoting a modal shift away from cars, for cost safety and environmental reasons.”

In response, Cllr Cormac Flynn (SF) said that “a modal shift is an urban not a rural issue.”

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