‘Industrial Road’ name confusion caused Killybegs Easter traffic congestion

While Bundoran, Rossnowlagh and Donegal Town regularly feature on the tourism trails at the start of the busy Easter period, traffic to and from west Donegal through Killybegs was backlogged there, over the holiday weekend.

But Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind.) said this is because a modern road which bypasses much of the congestion flashpoint, known as the 'Industrial Road’ is being misinterpreted and therefore not been used by visitors, because of its name.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Donegal Municipal District, she told fellow councillors that this has caused the backlog of traffic going in both directions.

She suggested that as a matter of urgency, that the ‘Industrial Road’ be renamed, “as the change of name would help alleviate a lot of the pressure”, by mapping it clearly for tourists on the likes of Google Maps and social media.

It also happened to give some great views of the port, Mooney Boats as well as the harbour centre, leaving the town, she added

Afterwards Cllr Kennedy told the paper that the problem is the linkage between Cunningham junction area that was being used by traffic instead of the Industrial Road

“All the traffic coming from Glencolmcille, Kilcar and Carrick comes down the old Fintra Road and down into Killybegs. But they come down that junction flying and there are also cars and vehicles going by that road. This is making it a really busy road with the end result that over the weekend it became extremely congested causing backlogs back to the Fintra Road,” she said.

Cllr Kennedy said that the Cunningham junction area, because it has no footpath and is on a hill, is at the best of times, “an awkward junction and causes quite a bit of hassle”.

She said that a lot of the time there were also fish lorries going up the hill towards Killybegs Seafoods because that is where they are located on Conlon Road.

“But now, all the traffic and tourists are using the old Fintra Road from Sliabh Liag and they are coming down that hill. They are coming straight at the Glenlee roundabout instead of turning right onto the Industrial road, which is wide and well capable of holding its own in terms of traffic flow down to the Shore Road.”

She explained: “People are not using it because we believe that people believe that the Industrial Road is an Industrial Estate and that there is no way out of it.

“But in actual fact, if the road was named, which it will be, it will go on Google Maps and SatNav and people, campers, buses, lorries, delivery men can all use the Shore road is KIllybegs and straight up the Industrial road, coming out at the Glenlee roundabout.”

She said that the name that had been suggested and voted on by the Public is the ‘Glenlee Pass’.