Concern that ‘frenzy’ of traffic talk could turn people away from Letterkenny

There is a growing concern that criticism of traffic issues in Letterkenny will turn people away from the town.

The new traffic lights at the Polestar Roundabout sparked a ‘frenzy’ of commentary online, according to Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh, who said that people are talking about avoiding Letterkenny outright.

“Coming up to Christmas we don't want to be putting out negative vibes around the town,” Councillor Kavanagh told Tuesday’s Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District meeting.

“Letterkenny is a thriving business town and a good town to do business in, and we need to be promoting that,” he said.

Works were carried out this week to improve the phasing of the lights at the Polestar Roundabout, particularly on the Ramelton Road (N56) approach.

Councillor Kavanagh said that commentary about the lights seems to be 'settling down and getting more positive’.

Councillor Kavanagh added that a 'large dollop of reality' is needed around further projects for the town, such as the building of the Bonagee Link.

Councillors were told on Tuesday that it could be 2030 by the time the Ten-T road project reaches the construction stage and the proposed bridge is built across the River Swilly.

“It’s very sobering for anybody that thinks there is going to be a bridge anytime soon,” Councillor Kavanagh said, adding that the council needs to look at smaller-scale projects to manage traffic levels now.

Councillor Gerry McMonagle said he understood that the public will not be happy with the expected timeline of the Bonagee Link.

He said that the Polestar roundabout lights were never intended to be the ‘be-all and end-all’.

“My fear is all the talk about it is going to damage our town, damage the economic viability of our town and turn off people and investors in our town.”

Councillor McMonagle called for a focus on interim measures, such as an improved public transport system in Letterkenny and park and ride facilities.

Councillor Ciaran Brogan said that Letterkenny’s growth has been one of the greatest success stories in the north west and that ‘it’s a good complaint’ that the town has traffic passing through.

“I’m in business and there were two years when it was bleak during Covid,” Councillor Brogan said.

Donegal County Council has said that traffic congestion in Letterkenny and on those particularly busy roads converging at the Polestar Roundabout at peak times ‘cannot be resolved by traffic signalisation alone’.

A statement from the Council said: “While it will help provide assurance, reliability and greater safety for all road users, only significant new infrastructure such as the Ten-T Project and others can hope to resolve the peak time congestion issues within the town.”

Donegal County Council Area Manager David McIlwaine also told Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh that the work is underway to reintroduce a live feed of traffic cameras at the Polestar to allow commuters to plan their journeys.