Leitrim councillors slam NTA’s ‘success’ claim on Rooskey Bridge Trial

Last September a temporary footbridge was conducted in Rooskey for two weeks. The trial involved the use of bollards on the existing bridge and temporary traffic signals to control traffic over the bridge to one way flow.

Following the trial, there was overwhelming feedback from both local representatives and residents expressing a clear preference for a cantilever bridge as the long-term solution.

The existing bridge was deemed too narrow to support the trialled footbridge, and local businesses reported significant difficulties with receiving deliveries during the trial period.

Despite strong local opposition, the National Transport Authority (NTA) deemed the trial a “success.”

Members of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District remain firm in their belief that a cantilever bridge - similar to the one in Carrick-on-Shannon - is the only suitable option for Rooskey.

“We’d be totally opposed to it, it is a danger. We have a say in letting it go ahead or not, I will not be supporting a footpath on the bridge as I think it would be a disaster for Rooskey and everyone concerned,” said Cllr Sean McGowan.

At April’s meeting, Cllr McGowan proposed a motion seeking members' support in calling on the Department of Transport and the NTA to fund a cantilever bridge.

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“The local community are opposed to it on both sides of the Shannon,” he added. 

Cllr Maeve Reynolds also proposed a motion regarding the bridge, requesting the MD draft a letter to the NTA, outlining the dissatisfaction of local business, residents and road users with the disruption caused during the trial.

Cllr Reynolds questioned the criteria used by the NTA to classify the trial as a success.

“If you have very few businesses in the town and it’s negatively impacting the businesses then it simply cannot go ahead,” she said.

Cllr Cormac Flynn requested Leitrim County Council write to the NTA in relation to the traffic light system, and remind them that it was an “unmitigated failure” and to reiterate that the preferred solution of the members is the cantilever-style footpath on the bridge.

All members of Carrick-on-Shannon MD supported the motions.

In response, the Economic Development section stated that Leitrim County Council has invited Fehily Timoney - the involved consultancy - to attend the May Carrick-on-Shannon MD meeting and present the findings to the elected members.

The executive recommended that any letter to the NTA, if agreed upon, should be issued following the May meeting.

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