Lifford Bridge

Lifford Bridge is a cross-border bridge on the N15 - A38 road, spanning the River Foyle which marks the border between Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and Lifford in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

The present bridge was constructed by engineering company McAlpines in 1964, jointly funded by Donegal County Council and Strabane District Council.cite web | title=Linking North and South: Lifford Bridge | work=Ask about Ireland | url=http://www.askaboutireland.ie/show_narrative_page.do?page_id=1218 | accessdate=2007-08-24] The overall length of the bridge is 115m. In 2005 it carried some 16,000 vehicles a day. [cite web | title= Lifford Bridge works completed three weeks early| date=Winter 2005/2006 | work=Graham News | url=http://www.graham.co.uk/pages_news/documents/gnews_61.pdf | accessdate=2007-08-24] Today it remains a vital part of the trans-border route from Letterkenny, County Donegal to Dublin via County Tyrone.

In 2005 refurbishment of the bridge took place and included upgrading the parapet railings, installation of safety kerbing and railings, resurfacing of the carriageway deck and footways, upgrading streetlights. Over £400,000 was spent on the project. [cite web | title=Lifford Bridge works completed three weeks early | date=2005-11-21 | work= Department for Regional Development - News Releases| url=http://archive.nics.gov.uk/rd/051121f-rd.htm | accessdate=2007-08-24]

History

Lifford came into the possession of Sir Richard Hansard during the Plantation of Ulster in 1607. One of the conditions of his grant was that a ferry crossing be provided over the River Finn. This service continued until 1730 when the first bridge linking Lifford and Strabane was built.

In the 19th century a curious custom existed when if, by the end of the Assizes in Lifford or Omagh courthouses, a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in a case, they were sent to the "verge" of the county to be dismissed. In the case of counties Donegal and Tyrone, this was the middle of the Lifford Bridge.

The Troubles

During The Troubles in 1968, an attempt was made to blow the bridge up. However, it was closed for only a short time.

References