Call for immediate reduction of speed limit on dangerous N14 stretch

Donegal County Council has been urged to initiate safety works on a dangerous stretch of the N14 road.

There are calls for a reduction of the speed limit on a part of the Letterkenny-Lifford road at Carrickballydooey.

Letterkenny-based Fianna Fáil Councillor Donal Coyle raised the issue at the January meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.

Councillor Coyle said there were three fatal road traffic collisions on the road over the last five years.

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“We are only talking about a 600m stretch of road and three people have lost their lives,” Councillor Coyle said. “I think it is time that something was done before there are any more deaths.”

Councillor Coyle asked that the Council make urgent contact with Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding immediate and urgent safety measures to be carried out at Carrickballydooey.

The Council has said that the issue will be referred to a road safety engineer for review.

A spokesperson said: “They will report back on the need and scope of a potential HD17, then all options will be considered to deal with the specific safety concern identified.”

A week before Christmas, Paul Mooney, a Ramelton musician aged in his 30s, lost his life in a collision at Carrickballydooey.

The fatal crash promoted Councillor Coyle’s motion - which was seconded by Councillor Michael McBride - and he has called for safety measures to be immediately introduced.

Councillor Coyle said: “It is such a short stretch of road. The speed limit at the road is 100km/h and there is no way 100km/h is fit for purpose on that stretch.

“What needs to be done is that the speed limit be reduced to at least 80km/h right up to Mondooey. There is a series of dangerous bends there and the road just isn’t fit for that speed.”

Councillor Coyle told the meeting that a similar measure of speed reduction has been introduced on the Emyvale-Monaghan road.

“I don’t see why it should be a huge problem reducing this stretch of road similarly,” he said. “There are three houses there and with the speed of cars coming around the bend, people are in fear of their lives. Safety measures need to be carried out and something needs done for the sake of everybody.”