Approach road to Harry Blaney Bridge must be upgraded
Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney has vowed to secure the necessary funds for the upgrading required on the approach road on the Fanad side of the Harry Blaney Bridge, following the revelation that Councillors who were critical of the condition of the road did not make any effort to include it on a priority list for refurbishment by Donegal County Council. 19/02/10Deputy Blaney said the road should have been included on the list by the Councillors if they were really serious about their concerns in relation to this road.
“A number of Councillors have been very critical of the condition of the approach road to the Bridge since it was opened so I find it curious that they did not choose to include it on their list of roads for refurbishment for the Department of Transport.”
“Cllrs Noel McBride, Ian McGarvey and Mick Quinn have been particularly public in their criticism of the condition of the road.”
“So I want to ask the question, why did they not put through the relevant request for funding?”
“It would be more fitting for Cllr McBride to look at Bunlin Bridge and the deplorable condition it is in, rather than criticising the approach road to the Harry Blaney Bridge. The Bunlin Bridge badly requires widening and has done for some time. I tried to secure funding for it when I was a Councillor but was blocked by a Fine Gael Councillor who was on the Council at the time.”
“I will do everything in my power to secure the necessary funding to upgrade the road on the Fanad side of the Harry Blaney Bridge. I have already met with the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD to request the funding be found for the road and I will continue to work to secure it.”
“The Harry Blaney Bridge was recognised on a national scale earlier this month at the Zurich Local Authority Members Association awards when it was awarded the Best Civil Engineering Project.”
“When the works surrounding the Bridge are completed it will be a considerable resource for local people and it will open North Donegal to tourism in conjunction with the two car ferries. “
“The project is a long term vision for North Donegal and I think it is a shame that Councillors McBride, McGarvey and Quinn do not seem to support that vision,” concluded Niall Blaney TD.
