‘We need solutions - at the moment, there are none’

Letterkenny councillors have unanimously backed suspending roadworks for two major Active Travel projects.

Cllr Ciaran Brogan of Fianna Fáil called for the suspension of works planned for the Ballyraine Road to Tesco roundabout and the circular roadworks from the hospital roundabout to the top of Glencar at the Letterkenny-Milford MD meeting.

Just hours before the meeting, Evolve Clothing in Letterkenny Retail Park expressed its frustration at the ongoing traffic issues in the town, warning that businesses “will” close, calling for an immediate halt to roadworks across the town, and warning that ongoing traffic disruption is having a serious negative impact

The retailer claimed customers are choosing to travel to Derry or smaller towns to shop, and journeys that once took 15 minutes now take up to an hour.

Cllr Brogan said that although Letterkenny is a thriving town, traffic issues are negatively affecting it.

“I’m very concerned about the implications the traffic has on the town,” Cllr Brogan said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Letterkenny has been a very successful town, and a lot of people have invested heavily in the town to make it what it is today.

“However, the traffic works that we have seen recently haven’t held the challenge that we’re facing on a daily basis.”

Cllr Brogan argued that throughout Tuesday’s meeting, traffic-related motions were made, including 100% Redress Cllr Tómas Seán Devine's motion to have an urgent meeting on the town's traffic before the busy Christmas period begins and the N56 to open for one-way traffic to relieve congestion. Cllr Michael McBride, independent, also placed a motion for a traffic workshop.

"We are all saying the same thing: we need solutions, and at the moment - there are none” Cllr Brogan said.

Cllr Brogan’s main argument for delaying the Circular Road works was the planned Northern Relief Road, also known as the Killylastin-Windyhall Road. The project recently received support through the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) and has an indicative cost band of between €10 million and €20 million.

“The Circular Road runs parallel to the Windyhall Road, and it would make no sense whatsoever to have road works on both roads,” he said. “So it’s absolutely common sense to postpone the works on the Circular Road.

“I believe that as soon as the Windyhall Road is completed, it will be a hugely positive development for the traffic in that part of the town and take away so much traffic from Circular Road completely.”

Cllr Brogan said he is not opposed to every Active Travel plan, and said the Old Farm Road Atlantic Technological University should be progressed.

The council defended the current Letterkenny Transport plan in a written response that said all projects should “be progressed as quickly as resources and procedures will permit.”

The response explained that the transport plan included public consultation and engagement with key stakeholders, and Active Travel forms part of a wider strategy that includes strategic roads, a permanent transport hub, and a town bus service.

According to the council, specialist transport and traffic consultants had previously been looped in through the Integrated Land Use and Transport Strategy, and for assessments of individual projects.

The council added that the Active Travel schemes would not reduce the number of vehicle lanes. At the Ballyraine and Creamery junctions, replacing the existing roundabouts with signalised junctions would provide additional lanes on some approaches.

The motion did pass - however, the council has yet to confirm whether either of the projects has been formally suspended.

Eamonn Browne, Acting Director of Service, said the result of the vote would be brought to the senior management team.

Mr Browne acknowledged the issue of the congestion problems, but said: “There is no single solution. It will require a combination of measures.”

Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly of Fianna Fáil backed Cllr Brogan’s motion to suspend the Active Travel plans works.

“There is a lot of common sense in what he is saying,” Cllr Kelly said. “I think this motion can, and will, throw a lifeline to the town. There are seven or eight motions here related to the traffic in Letterkenny. A bus service will not run in Letterkenny until we can achieve a solution to the traffic congestion.”’

Cllr Kelly said that if the suspension of works were supported, it would “throw a lifeline” to Letterkenny, explaining that a bus service will not run in the town until a solution to the traffic issues is found.

“I’ve never been a major fan of active travel, but from day one I’ve always said it was premature; I’ve never said I was fully against it,” he said.

Cllr Kelly argues that the Active Travel plan’s should have started on Old Town Road and Churchill, and questioned whether some of the road space that is currently designated as cycle lanes could be used as an emergency service lane or bus lane.

“When you see the width of the cycle lanes, there is plenty of room for a bus lane,” he said.

The vote followed Monday’s announcement of €14.7 million for four Letterkenny regeneration projects under the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.

The Letterkenny Transport Hub is receiving €9 million, Letterkenny Cultural Corridor is getting €5.4 million, LK Green Connect Phase 2 is getting €150,000, while €150,000 has been earmarked for Into Letterkenny. The €14.7 million allocation for Donegal County Council is part of a €409 million funding package for almost 120 projects across the country.