Grant is refused for Corrib bridge 1971

Grant is refused for Corrib bridge

A scheme to link the West and east banks of Lough Corrib through a bridge spanning the narrows between Knockferry and Kilbeg received a severe setback this week when the government refused to give any money towards it.

The refusal came in a letter for local government Mr Robert Molloy TD who said that there was more important work to be done on the road and that the bridge would be for purely local use.

But the bridge which will cost in the region of £300,000 may still be built. For Galway county Council has been told that private interests may put up a very large section of the cost.

The refusal letter was read to Galway county Council this week. It said that realising that the scheme would take some time to prepare the Minister had arranged a special examination of the proposal to find if it was worthwhile.

They conclusions reached were:

• The overall cost of the project would be in the region of three hundred thousand pounds to £350,000.
• Benefits would be limited and purely of local influence.
• There was evidence that it would be so social or economic influence to only a small local area. Both economic crowns and to reduce accidents work on the roads throughout the country and county would be a much more important
• There was several traffic congestions congestion in the city he go away and this would have to be tackled first full stop there were also plans to build another bridge over the Corrib.

In view of these factors the Ministers stated that the bridge would not qualify for any special assistance from the roads fund and there was no hope of this while the demand for other more important work remained to be done.

Councillor Sean Donnellan said that despite Mr Molloy’s letter there were was quite a number of private individuals who were prepared to put up a hip high percentage of the cost of the bridge. He asked that the matter be deferred. Council chairman Mr Tom King said “I do not agree with what the Minister said about this being a parochial matter”. He added that he had information that wealthy sponsors were prepared to put up a high percentage of the money possibly as high as one third of the cost.

Deputy Thomas Hussey said the possibility of setting up a ferry at the narrows should be examined. The council agreed to defer the matter.

Note:  Agitation for the bridge was first started about two years ago by a local committee. They said it would open up Connemara and help to develop the area east of Corrib. Galway County Council last year agreed in principal to put up one third of the cost believing at the time the bridge would cost £150,000.