Safety concerns raised at Donegal County Council after ‘further three car accidents’

Serious safety concerns have been raised with Donegal County Council following multiple accidents and near-misses in two areas of Milford town.

Councillor Liam Blaney made calls for a pedestrian crossing at the junction of Milford Main Street and the Kilmacrennan Road.

Speaking at last Thursday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Cllr Blaney said that residents raised fears over trying to cross the road, as drivers often do not see them until the last moment.

A response from the local authority said that while there is no funding currently, discussions will take place with the NTA about including a future scheme for Milford Main Street.

Cllr Blaney welcomed this but urged the council to introduce temporary measures, asking for "anything at all" to slow traffic in the meantime.

Councillor Declan Meehan also raised concerns about the Gap junction in Milford, calling for more signage on Church Road, Quay Road and the R245, as well as a ramp on the R245. He said that recent safety works have not been effective.

“This motion is in light of a further three-car accidents at this junction over the past two months, despite the reconfiguration of this junction in 2024,” he said.

Cllr Meehan commented that cars are approaching the junction too quickly from the Cranford side, and that these collisions are happening within a stone's throw of local schools and the Donegal ETB centre.

“The installation of a raised table or ramps would go a long way to addressing this,” Cllr Meehan told the MD meeting.

“The continuation of accidents at the Gap and cars going in the wrong direction around Church Road would make this clear that signage is not clear enough to people unfamiliar with the area."

The council informed Cllr Meehan that new options to improve safety at the junction are being examined, and additional funding will be sought from the NTA or other sources if necessary. This work will follow the completion of the active travel scheme linking the Grey Rock estate, which aims to improve pedestrian safety.

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Cllr Meehan also asked the council to consider any immediate, practical improvements that could be made in the meantime.

Councillors were told that the footpath from Grey Rock estate to the fire station is expected to be completed by November 28. The remainder will be stoned up, surfaced dressed with bollards placed along the outside of the path and streetlighting by December 19.