By Chris Ashmore
OVER the road or under the road? That was the question posed during a council debate on how pedestrians can cross the road in an easier manner outside ATU Letterkenny.
Cllr Michael McBride has proposed that Donegal County Council, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, looks at the possibility of installing a pedestrian crossover of the Port Road between the front gate and the car park on the opposite side. Addressing the March meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council, Cllr McBride said that there are about 4,000 students at the ATU, and that number is continuing to expand.
Meanwhile, Cllr Donal Coyle also had a motion at the meeting, calling on the Council to liaise with the ATU regarding provision of an underpass.
Cllr McBride said that they needed to “get the ball rolling” and they needed to start work now, whether it is underground or overground.
He did caution that an underpass might be difficult “given the type of ground that there is out there”.
Cllr Coyle noted that an underpass would accommodate wheelchair users as well.
Responding, David McIlwaine, Senior Executive Engineer, said that the Council can arrange discussions with the ATU regarding the crossing at the entrance to the ATU on the Port Road. He pointed out that there is currently no funding for such a proposal, but “options can be considered if funding opportunities become available.”
He added that they could carry out an assessment of the operation and layout of the traffic lights and pedestrian crossing signals at the existing junction to see if there are options to improve things.