The long road to Rooksey’s bridge solution as Leitrim councillors stand firm on cantilever demand

In May of this year, a presentation was delivered to members of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District outlining the findings of the two-week shuttle system trialled in Rooskey last October.

The two-week trial was met with fierce backlash from locals, who raised concerns about safety and delays caused by the temporary traffic light setup.

Councillors remained firm in their demand for a cantilever bridge, a stance strongly supported by the public, with a striking 84 percent opposing the shuttle system according to a public survey.

However, the National Transport Authority (NTA) deemed the trial a success, stating that it aligned with their objectives.

Three options were considered for the Rooskey bridge: the first was the trialled shuttle system, with an estimated cost of €478,000; the second involved widening the existing bridge and adding a cantilever extension, estimated at just over €2 million; and the third option proposed constructing a brand-new pedestrian bridge, estimated to cost almost €3.6 million.

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Since then, the Rooskey bridge has remained unchanged, with no clear indication of what will happen next. At the October meeting of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District, it was asked whether there had been any update from the NTA regarding the request for a cantilever bridge.

Cllr McGowan noted that he had been made aware of people carrying out surveys at the bridge several weeks earlier. “We want the cantilever bridge and all the members aren’t moving from that particular point of view,” said Cllr McGowan.

“The point I would make is that the cantilever bridge is far safer for pedestrians and cyclists; traffic is separated from them,” he added.

A Council response explained that the NTA would not fund the construction of a cantilever bridge, and that there are currently no available funding sources, nor any likely funding sources in the foreseeable future, though the members’ preference for a cantilever bridge is noted.

Cllr McGowan requested that the NTA be contacted again, along with Oireachtas members, to seek a meeting to further discuss the position on a cantilever bridge. 

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He also suggested reaching out to Boyle Municipal District, as it is within their jurisdiction and they share the same position in wanting a cantilever bridge. “We need all the support we can get to try get this across the line,” he added.