On Monday 5 September the new Mullantiboyle Bridge at Glenties will be officially opened by the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Terence Slowey.
Speaking before the official opening Cllr. Slowey believes that this will be a great day for the people of Glenties.
“I am delighted to be in a position to officially open the new Mullantiboyle Bridge at Glenties and this will be a very special day for the people of the town and the surrounding areas. For generations the Mullantiboyle Bridge was an important part of the fabric of the community allowing access for local residents and farmers as well as visitors to the area. When the bridge collapsed in September 2010, it’s loss was felt strongly by the local community who in turn advocated with great determination to have the bridge restored.”
The old bridge was a twin span composite bridge that carried the L2693 over the Owenea River and provided an alternative access route around Glenties Town during festivals and emergencies and was widely used by local walkers, cyclists, residents and the local farming community.
One of the two spans collapsed in September 2010 and the road has remained closed to the public since.
The old Bridge carried a 2.1m wide road, with 2.7m between the parapets. Following inspection it was determined that the structure was beyond repair. Various interim solutions were considered by Donegal County Council in consultation with the Local Mullantiboyle Bridge Group including a pedestrian bridge. However, a decision was made to wait for a Roadbridge.
In May 2012, Roughan & O’Donovan were appointed to design a replacement bridge.
During the design phases Roughan & O’Donovan held consultations with various stakeholders and third parties including Donegal County Council, the Office of Public Works, the National Parks & Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Donegal County Council funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) developed the design of a new single span replacement concrete bridge which follows the route of the existing bridge but is a wider improved structure.
Design complexities included varying ground conditions and fresh water pearl mussels – both were carefully considered and a design decision taken to ensure the best possible outcome.
The scheme then advanced through the planning and technical approval stages.
Following a request from Donegal County Council for funding for the project, the then Minister for Transport, Minister Pascal Donoghue visited the location and an allocation of €698,808 was made in March 2015 by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Ward & Burke Construction Ltd, were the appointed contractors for this project and works commenced early in October 2015 on the 24 metre single span structure which is 6m wide incorporating a 5m wide road. In addition and as part of the project 87m of approach road has been upgraded.
The new bridge comprises a precast beam and slab deck supported on reinforced concrete abutments supported on piled bankseats.
Seamus Neely, Chief Executive with the Council explains that the new bridge structure has a 120 year design life which will go a long way in serving the current and future needs of the community.
“The over-riding purpose of this bridge replacement project was to provide a structure that conformed to modern design standards to replace the existing structure with a new bridge with the least amount of interference into the Special Area of Conservation as possible. This structure has a 120 year design life and this will go a long way in serving the current and future needs of the community and the greater Glenties Area.”
The official opening of the Mullantiboyle Bridge will take place at 11am on Monday 5 September 2016.
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