Huge boost for south-west Donegal with work getting underway on Fintra Bridge

Work is set to get underway on the long-awaited Fintra Bridge project, with the sod being turned on Friday.

It is fitting that this will be one of the last engagements of Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind) in her capacity as Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, with her term coming to an end on Monday, June 30. Since being elected to the Municipal District of Donegal in 2014, the Killybegs councillor has been instrumental in ensuring that this major €12m upgrade of Fintra Bridge and the associated road network remained on the agenda at the highest level.

READ NEXT: Booking is now live as Bundoran’s Waterworld prepares to reopen

“I am absolutely delighted and so thankful for the work that the council has done in getting the Fintra Bridge Project to this stage, particularly Cliodhna Campbell. 

“We have been working away at this all along, working very closely with the council staff, so it is great to see it coming together.

“There were a lot of naysayers who didn’t believe it would ever happen.”

Cllr Kennedy acknowledged the support of former Minister For Transport Shane Ross in giving the green light for Fintra Bridge.

“Only for Shane Ross, it would not have been done,” she said. “It was him who gave approval for Fintra Bridge and for Tirconaill Bridge in Donegal Town. Tirconaill  Bridge was done first because it was an easier project and more straightforward.

“We have been working away in the background on Fintra since 2014 and it is great to reach this point.

“A lot of councillors around the county have been asking ‘how did you manage that?’

“Mark Sweeney [Area Roads Officer] says it is because we worked together.”

Cllr Kennedy recalls travelling to Dublin to petition the minister, along with Donegal County Council’s Chief Executive John McLaughlin who was Roads Officer at the time. The deputation included Mark Sweeney, Cllr Noel Jordan (SF), former Cllr Tom Conaghan (Ind), former Cllr John Campbell (Ind).

There followed numerous stages, including design, public consultation and land purchase which have all taken time to complete.

The project includes not only a new bridge, but a significant road realignment to bring it up to a standard suitable for the high volume of traffic on what is a key tourism route.

The existing Fintra Bridge has a 'Yield' system whereby traffic can only cross in one direction at a time. To the Killybegs side, there are six very sharp bends.

New road alignment was designed to take account of environmental, economic and road safety factors, and will include a cycle and pedestrian path, part of which will be formed by repurposement of the current road. 

Significant realignment work will run from the Killybegs roundabout to the holiday homes west of the bridge. 

Follow Donegallive.ie for coverage of news, sport and events across Donegal