Councillor renews appeal for Buncrana footbridge and two-way system

Road works on Buncrana’s Mill Bridge will leave the road temporarily closed for the duration of next week.

The works will see the removal of the controversial water-filled barriers and the completion of bridge strengthening and pedestrian safety works.

Cllr Murray, from Buncrana, has argued that a separate pedestrian footbridge should be provided and the Mill Bridge opened to two-way traffic.

“From Monday to Friday next week, Mill Bridge in Buncrana will be closed to vehicular traffic while works are carried out.” He said. “The bridge will remain open to pedestrians throughout. Unfortunately, this is not for the footbridge that is so badly needed. The works will put the current one-way system on a longer-term basis. Please don't shoot the messenger on that one!

“I know that will cause huge frustration. I hear it every day from people who are fed up with the current arrangement, and I completely understand why. The long-term solution is actually fairly straightforward: provide a separate pedestrian footbridge and reopen Mill Bridge fully to two-way traffic. That would take pedestrians off the existing bridge, improve traffic flow, and remove the need for the current one-way restriction.

“The problem is funding. Under Ireland’s highly centralised system of local government, Donegal County Council cannot simply proceed with a scheme like this from its own resources. Government funding through the Department of Transport is needed. So while next week’s works are under the current arrangement, they cannot be accepted as the permanent solution.

“I will continue to press at every opportunity to fund the pedestrian footbridge and allow Mill Bridge to return to full two-way traffic. People in Buncrana have long lost patience on this. We need the practical solution funded and delivered.”

The issue has been a concern of the Sinn Féin councillor, who called for the urgent installation of a new footbridge in Buncrana to ease traffic congestion at the narrow Mill Bridge in the town back in January, and at the time he asked the Donegal County Council roads staff to advance a design and seek funding.