Postman ‘afraid’ to drive through dangerous Letterkenny junction
Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly highlighted safety concerns around the junctions at Oldtown and Lismonaghan at the Letterkenny-Milford MD meeting
A dangerous junction in Letterkenny is having an adverse effect on residents as a postman is too “afraid” to deliver to their houses.
Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly highlighted safety concerns around the junctions at Oldtown and Lismonaghan at the Letterkenny-Milford MD meeting, telling council members that he has spoken with residents.
The Fianna Fáil councillor asked the council to “introduce road safety measures at both the Hideout Junction (Old Dunnes) and the Lismonaghan Junction with the view to installing a yellow box, right turning lane, traffic calming measures as well as a pedestrian footpath linking both junctions into the Oldtown bridge.
“We’ve heard proposals before relating to both junctions. The Hideout is a tricky junction when traffic is heavy.
“I feel as well that at both junctions there should be extra signage put in place. The Lismonaghan junction is a real issue for residents, who feel they are taking risks to their life with the speed of cars coming from Oldtown. Two residents told me that the postman doesn’t come in because he's afraid and has to park away out.
“These are the sections where active travel should have started - on the outskirts of Letterkenny - to benefit vehicles and pedestrians.”
Cllr Donal Coyle seconded the motion. In the short term, Cllr Kelly asked the council to implement a yellow box at the Lismonaghan junction.
“I don’t think it’s a major ask,” he said.
David McIIwaine, Senior Executive Engineer, Roads, has been onsite to examine the Lismonaghan junction.
“There is currently no specific funding available for the development of a scheme at this location,” he said. “A safety assessment is being carried out to consider possible options such as improvement in road markings, introduction of traffic signals, one-way systems, and removal of parking that would improve both pedestrian and traffic safety in the area. If a scheme can be identified, sources of funding will be sought to progress a scheme.”