Lives are potentially being put at risk due to serious structural cracks on one of Donegal’s oldest and most historic bridges.

That’s according to Aontú’s Letterkenny Rep, Mary T Sweeney who says she is so concerned about expanding cracks on the Oldtown Bridge in the town, that she has written to the County Engineer seeking an urgent safety review.

She said: “I walk that bridge regularly and every time I do I notice some deterioration, but I was so shocked recently at the significant expansion of cracks that I immediately wrote to the Council. This is honestly the worst state I have ever witnessed the bridge to be in.

“This is an issue I have been resolute on for some time, and the Council arranged bridge maintenance on multiple occasions in the past following my lobbying for action.

“I believe that the current state of this Oldtown Bridge poses a potential for serious health and safety risk to the public given the structural cracks. These are widening and are being exacerbated by the large volumes of heavy construction vehicles crossing the bridge on a daily basis.

“People are genuinely concerned for their safety when crossing this bridge and I believe that the Council should restrict heavy laden vehicles now that the schools are out, until a proper review and repairs are carried out.

“This is a serious public health and safety issue and the Council has an absolute duty to carry out a full inspection on the Oldtown Bridge and determine its structural integrity.

“Let’s not take a chance on a tragedy happening there”

Mary T Sweeney.