Call for urgent re-opening of footbridge over River Moy

A Mayo TD has called for the urgent re-opening of Ballina footbridge over the River Moy.

Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said it is no longer acceptable that the necessary repairs are still waiting to be carried out.

The Erris-based representative stated: "For months now the people in Ballina, particularly in Moy Heights and Childers Heights, have waited patiently for this bridge to be fixed and reopened.

"We are now into another new year and the bridge remains closed.

“I have engaged with Mayo County Council for several months now and I understand engineers reports had to be sought and that there is an issue with the tension bars of which at least 24 need to be replaced.

"A final inspection was to be completed last month.

“It is perplexing and unacceptable that tension bars constructed and designed to ensure the functioning of a river bridge would not be corrosive proof in the first place.

"The apportionment of responsibility and accountability must be established.

“However, in the meantime the actual work must be done to enable the reopening of the bridge for the hundreds of people in the local area who need to use it particularly now with the Covid restrictions.

“I am calling on Mayo County Council to prioritise the bridge, get the works done, make it safe and give it back to the people of Ballina."