Objections to plans for bridge connecting Longford, Leitrim and Roscommon

Over 100 people attended a public meeting organised by Rooskey Residence Association last Monday to voice concerns about proposed changes to traffic management in the village,

The meeting took place in Rooskey Village Community Center. The gathering was organised to demonstrate local opposition to proposed plans to have a permanent traffic light controlled one-way traffic system in place across the river Shannon in the village.

Rooskey bridge is a busy artery connecting the three counties of Longford, Leitrim and Roscommon.

The public meeting was attended by Oireachtas members and County Counsellors from Leitrim and Roscommon.

The speaker raised objection to the trial underway. This is a one-way system with traffic lights and has operated for the past week. There is a path protected by bollards along the length of the bridge for pedestrians to cross.

At the meeting it was emphasised by all including business people in the village that it was causing chaos and long delays in this the quietest time of the year with the Shannon tourism activity season at an end.

Local Cllr Tom Crosby, who publicly to voice his objections to the proposed plans, stated at the meeting that the current proposal would be a disaster for the local and wider community, local business, and the future economic growth for the area.

A number of the local business proprietors spoke about the loss of business as a result of the traffic light system on the bridge. The proprietor of Tighes Centra stated that there was at least a 20% drop in their business with the traffic light system in place and McGuire's filling station and supermarket across the bridge on the Leitrim side stated that there was at least a 10% drop in there overall business.

Cllr Crosby said the infrastructural deficiency was a matter he has consistently had on the agenda of Roscommon County Council since he was first elected as the local representative on Roscommon County Council almost 35 years ago.

He said he was successful in securing funding in 2009 amounting two €1.4 million to be a joint venture between Roscommon and Leitrim County Council’s.

Cllr Crosby stated as part of the funding application in 2008 Roscommon County Council engaged consultants to draw up a comprehensive plan for the bridge which involved major construction work in strengthening the ancient bridge originally built over 200 years ago the plans also involved widening the bridge to provide an adequate carriageway for any two vehicles of size to meet and a footpath to provide safety for pedestrians to cross.

The comprehensive plan for the Bridge cost the people of the county Roscommon €124,000 back in 2008 ( at least €250,000+ in today’s values) The plans were put out on public display for a 12 week period which was followed by a successful Part 8 Planning permission.

The project was then put out to tender by Roscommon County Council with a commencement date for the works to begin in about July 2009.

Cllr Crosby informed the meeting that there was absolute shock and disbelief in the community and wider region when just three weeks out from the County Council election in 2009 for no apparent reason it was publicly announced that the then government had withdrawn the total funding of €1.4 million from this crucial project.

At the meeting on Monday night the public representatives from Leitrim and Roscommon were supporting a cantilever bridge instead of the present proposal, this proposal would would involve a pre-fabricated pedestrian walkway bolted on to the river side of the wall on the existing bridge.

Cllr Crosby stated that this two would be only a short term solution as it would not involve any widening of the bridge for two larger vehicles to meet and would not involve the essential reconstruction works on the 200 year-old supports and foundation to the bridge.

He stated that the costing for the cantilever temporary arrangement is over €2.million and this would be a wasted opportunity for a proper bridge in line with the plans and Planning Permission already secured and all that is now necessary is for a government commitment to restore the funding €1.4 million committed 15 years ago in 2009, which would now be at the very least over €3 million when updated to current values.

The counsellor went on to say that this funding should not be an issue as the government is awash with money a lot of it been wasted on projects under their nose in Leinster House and more recently where €440,000 price up from €200,000 each from under two years ago to build wooden shelters for refugees with no further use envisaged for these structures.