by Jerome Hughes
Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce is seeking forbearance from motorists while ‘teething issues’ are resolved with respect to a traffic management system at the town’s Polestar roundabout.
Letterkenny Chamber CEO Toni Forrester has moved to allay concerns over the traffic lights at the roundabout which have attracted criticism from some motorists and local shops.
“We have to remember there are 35,000 cars coming in the four-lane road every day. The traffic lights give people certainty that they will get through,” said Ms Forrester.
“Before, people were sitting thinking; will I get through the roundabout? At least if you have a green light, you know you’ll get through. You might have to stop one more time but you’ll get through the next time.”
Ms Forrester has been at pains to stress that Letterkenny is fully open for business.
“There are teething issues, of course there are. We do need other roads. We need better infrastructure. That’s not going to be solved overnight so we ask people to be as patient as they can.”
Motorists have been clogging up Letterkenny’s alternative access routes as they attempt to avoid the Polestar Roundabout traffic lights. One driver, moving slowly through Oldtown on Friday morning, told us:
“Since the lights started the traffic is a lot heavier in this area. People are avoiding the roundabout and now they’re coming in here.
“We’re on this road every day with a school run. Since the lights started, the traffic has gotten extremely heavy now in the Oldtown area.”
Another motorist, stuck in traffic at the Polestar Roundabout, told us the sheer volume of cars making their way to or through Letterkenny is resulting in the new system ‘not working’. However, he gave a somewhat jovial response when asked if he’s annoyed:
“Not really. Let’s just get on with it.”
One van driver insisted he welcomes the new system ‘without a doubt’: “The new lights give you a chance to get away.”
The issue will be debated at a Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District meeting tomorrow.
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