Letterkenny traffic gridlock due to hedge-cutting described as 'sheer madness'

The hedgecutting schedule in Letterkenny will be reappraised after it was blamed for a serious traffic jam in the town last month.

Hedge and grass cutting on the dual carriageway led to severe delays across the town during the evening rush hour on Thursday, February 27.

The disruption was described as “sheer madness” by local Councillor Tomás Seán Devine, who has asked that non-emergency works be carried out on weekends going forward.

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“Traffic disruptions in Letterkenny are bad enough. This is seriously damaging and having an effect on people coming to the town to shop and visit,” said Cllr Devine’s motion at this week’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.

Cllr Declan Meehan, seconding the motion, called for more logic: “The council have in their knowledge base the busy times and the best times to close roads for essential repairs.

Mr David McIIwaine, Senior Executive Engineer of the Roads section, replied in saying hedge and grass cutting is essential for road safety and must be done during hedge-cutting season for environmental reasons.

Councillors were told that it is not possible to carry out these works without causing some disruption to traffic.

“These works have been carried out on weekends previously and complaints have also been received regarding disruption,” said Mr McIlwaine, who said he understood the frustrations.

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Apologising for the disruption, he said the council will try to make improvements but there are limitations: “A review will be carried out to see where improvements can be made. As this is a dual carriageway specialist traffic management is required and the availability of these crews impacts on the timing when these works can be carried out.”