We are accepting nothing but the cantilever bridge in Rooskey - McGowan

There were strong words of disagreement with a decision to go with a different option for a pedestrian walkway on Rooskey Bridge than what had previously been decided on by Carrick-on-Shannon members at a meeting in February.
The three options put before members at the monthly council meeting on Monday last included (1) a pedestrian path on the bridge requiring traffic lights at each end, (2) a cantilever bridge alongside the existing structure, and (3) a completely separate pedestrian bridge.
While all members wanted the cantilever bridge option, it was ultimately decided to go with what was decided by consultants as part of the options assessment - a pedestrian bridge with traffic lights.
Cllr Sean McGowan said that there was a unanimous decision that they would go with option number two as “it was really the only proper option.”
Cllr Thomas Mulligan agreed with Cllr McGowan's proposal and said it was “by far the most preferred option” adding that he believed it should be on the northern side of the bridge rather than the southern side.
Cllr Des Guckian said he would “very much favour the cantilever type bridge; it's a very safe option; I'm gobsmacked to think lights might be put in there.”
He said that while members were advised the cantilever bridge could cost €2m, I think for the sake of safety, that it is the option we should go with.”
Cllr Paddy Farrell also agreed with this option.
Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire said she thought that aesthetically, it should be “from the Dromod side” and that “the whole area would be improved greatly by it.”
Justin Fannon of Leitrim County Council said the options report that was presented considered everything from safety factors to cost and environmental considerations and the preferred option for the consultants to deliver was the third option which is the traffic lights option.
He said, “It was agreed at the meeting that there would be a pilot for a number of days of the traffic lights and that would take place shortly.”
He said that the view of the members would have to be taken back to the consultants and the TII. “When the methodology that's used identifies a solution it can be difficult to get that overturned. I'm not saying that we can't and we will try but the TII have regard to the options assessment results.”
Cllr McGowan said the members of Carrick-on- Shannon want a cantilever bridge. “Surely the NTA and Department of Transport are not going to ignore what we want. Put a footpath on the bridge and traffic lights and have young children walking or cycling across it and lorries going by; it's a recipe for disaster. It's actually safer the way it is to be honest.”
He stressed, “No way will we accept a footpath on the bridge and traffic lights. We want a cantilever bridge and that's that. We won't be deviating from that.”
Cllr Enda Stenson said that anything else was a “waste of time and money.”
Mr Fannon again stressed it would be a “difficult job to move away when the options were assessed using the methodology that they determined be used in these scenarios.”
Cllr McGowan retorted, “That methodology is flawed in my opinion.”
Cllr Stenson stated there was “no point in doing anything else or wasting your time or anybody's else's.”
Cllr McGowan said that he hoped that the NTA and Department of Transport would take into consideration the views of the elected members.
“We're here for the people who elected us and have the interest of the safety of the community which is our first priority,” he said.
Cllr Guckian said that “we have to see democracy in action here. We have six elected local councillors in Carrick and they are all unanimous in support of the cantilever bridge option and nothing else.”
He said that if the pedestrian path on the bridge requiring traffic lights at each end goes ahead and users “don't like the lights, how do they get their views across to the council.”
Joseph Gilhooly, interim Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council, said the funding to carry out the bridge will be awarded by the NTA.
“Ultimately we are depending on a third party for approval of funding.”
It was agreed with Roscommon County Council that Leitrim County Council will act as lead authority for the scheme through a Section 85 Agreement.
Cllr McGowan said that while he proposed that Leitrim be the lead authority “we are accepting nothing but the cantilever bridge.”