Anton McNulty
ALL OBSTACLES to progress on the the commencement of work in replacing the Michael Davitt bridge connecting Achill with the mainland look to have been removed, following the sanctioning by the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs of a grant of €2 million for the project.
The construction of the new swing bridge is thought to cost in the region of €4.4 million and both the Department of the Environment and the Department of the Gaeltacht pledged to pay 50 per cent of the cost. Mayo County Council gave its backing for the project from the start but were awaiting the sanctioning of funding from both departments before they could start the construction phase of the project.
However, the approval of the funding for 2007 from the Department of the Gaeltacht looks to have taken away any stumbling blocks in the way of commencing the construction of the bridge. Before the election, the former Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche TD announced that he accepted the €4.4 million tender for the replacement of the bridge and also authorised Mayo County Council to accept the tender of SIAC Construction Limited.
The funding from the Department of the Environment will be provided under the EU Co-Finance funding to Mayo County Council who prioritise where the money is spent and the 2007 funding was prioritised for the bridge and voted for by the county councillors.
The current bridge was built in 1947, replacing the original swing bridge which first connected Achill to the mainland in 1887. The new design of the bridge will have an arch with a causeway and a new turning mechanism. There are also designs for footpaths on both approaches to the bridge and on on the causeway.
Cllr Micheál McNamara, who has campaigned for a new bridge since his election to Mayo County Council, said he was very pleased with progress to date.
