Temporary measures on Buncrana Bridge 'Failing Miserably' after latest incident

Serious safety concerns have been raised after barriers and bollards on the Mill Bridge in Buncrana were found knocked over on Monday morning, partially blocking the narrow footpath and forcing vulnerable pedestrians onto the road.

The incident caused major difficulty for wheelchair users and parents with buggies, with one mother reporting she could barely manoeuvre her pram through the space available.

“Could hardly get the pram through with the bollards taking up half of the footpath. Could someone please sort this mess out.”

Others were left with no option but to step out onto the busy roadway to pass, raising fears of a potential accident.

The temporary water-filled barriers and one-way traffic system on the bridge were introduced around 12 months ago by Donegal County Council as a low-cost measure aimed at improving pedestrian safety. While the changes have made conditions safer for pedestrians, they have also led to ongoing frustration among motorists.

South Inishowen councillor Fionán Bradley described the situation as “very frustrating,” suggesting the bollards were unlikely to have been knocked over by weather conditions.

“The bollards are full to the brim with water, they’re far too heavy to just blow over,” he said. “I don’t believe it was Mother Nature. It was either an accident or someone acting the eejit, thinking it was funny. But it’s actually quite dangerous.”

The Fianna Fail Councillor acknowledged that the way the bollards were left created risks for both drivers and pedestrians.

“It’s definitely not safe for anybody using the bridge when they’re like that,” he said.

Councillor Bradley, who has repeatedly raised concerns about the layout of the bridge at council meetings, said the current system is failing to meet the needs of all road users.

“This was meant to be a temporary, low-cost solution, but it has failed miserably,” he said. “There is no other quick fix; the only solution is a dedicated footbridge on the Mill side.”

He warned that waiting for the long-discussed Inner Relief Road project, which would include a footbridge for the Mill Bridge, is no longer viable.

“We can’t keep waiting for that. This has become an emergency, and we need to look at securing funding for a footbridge now,” he added.

Despite the issues, Councillor Bradley stressed that removing the bollards altogether would create even greater dangers for pedestrians.

“With the bollards in place, it is unquestionably safer for people walking, especially those with prams, children, or mobility issues,” he said. “Taking them away would make the bridge instantly dangerous again.”

However, Councillor Bradley noted that progress on a permanent solution appears unlikely in the short term, despite ongoing calls since mid-2024.

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In the meantime, repairs are expected quickly, with Councillor Bradley saying he anticipates the barriers will be restored without delay.

The Buncrana Councillor also issued an appeal to the public. “If I could, I would just appeal to people to please drive cautiously over the bridge. However, if it was done deliberately, I’d urge whoever was responsible not to do it again.  Nobody wants to have it in their conscience that they caused a road traffic collision where somebody got very seriously injured or worse.”