Crosby calls on councils to revisit plans for Rooskey Bridge

Roscommon County Councillor Tom Crosby is calling on Roscommon and Leitrim County Councils to “revert back to the original plans regarding works on the bridge in the village of Rooskey which he says will both provide for a proper safe bridge for vehicle and pedestrian use while retaining the old stonework.”
Back in 2007 Cllr Crosby was instrumental in getting Roscommon County Council to draw up plans which cost over €110,000 and were put on public display (which was advertised on all the local newspapers) to reconstruct and widen the bridge from the existing 12 ft to a 20 ft wide carriageway across the river Shannon and include a 5 ft pedestrian footpath, the existing stone was to be reused and the lifting bridge parapets completely refurbished.
The €700,000 project went out to tender in the spring of 2009 and for some mysterious reason which was never explained the funding for the project was withdrawn three weeks out from the 2009 County Council Election, he said.
At a February meeting of Leitrim County Council, three options were put to Councillors regarding the works - (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.
Although all members favoured 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.
However, Cllr Crosby remains adamant that the current proposals fall far short of the original plans which were funded back in 2008 and should rightfully now be the only proposal on the table and eagerly awaits the response of both local authorities to his call.