Reopening of Letterkenny Road could 'ease' traffic congestion

Councillor Tómas Seán Devine put forward the motion to reopen the Knocknamona Road next to Little Angels, leading to the N56, for use as a one-way traffic system.

The old road to the Donegal Hospice at Knocknamona was converted into a path during the extension of the N56 and is now only accessible by pedestrians and cyclists.

Cllr Devine, 100% Redress, said he feels this would alleviate the school morning traffic congestion by allowing traffic coming up the N56 to turn left into the school.

“The way traffic congestion is in Letterkenny, everything that can help should be explored,” he said. “I think it would be a great help.”

Cllr Devine, a father whose child attends the school, said the route would benefit a lot of bus companies doing school runs into Little Angels every day, and he can not understand why it was not considered when the road was already in place.

He described the road re-opening as a ‘temporary solution’ to the congestion of traffic affecting the town.

The council’s written response said introducing a one-way system would require either an entry or exit junction onto the N56.

It said the proposal would require approval from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, along with an assessment of its potential impact on traffic movements and road safety across the national road network.

Cllr Michael McBride seconded the motion, saying he believed it would be ‘a very simple job’ and would help ease traffic congestion.