By Chris Ashmore
THE time has come to look at the possibility of whether there is a case for having a new roundabout constructed near Hegarty’s Autoservices garage on the main N56 road between the hospital roundabout and the Mountain Top in Letterkenny – that’s the view of a local councillor.
According to Cllr. Michael McBride this is an area with considerable traffic congestion, and it is getting more and more built up.
“Is there a case for another roundabout at Hegarty’s Garage,” he asked.
“There are roundabouts not far apart at the Port Bridge and Ballyraine and it helps keep traffic moving.”
He felt that they “cannot keep building houses” in the area and expect people to be able to cross the road and also get in and out of estates and onto the main road.
His comments came as he backed what he termed was a “very sensible motion” from Cllr. Tómas Seán Devine who called for what are known as “raised tables” to be installed on pedestrian crossings between the two roundabouts at the Mountain Top.
Speaking at the latest meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council, he said that it is “very difficult” for people to cross the road in this area.
One side has the very busy Cosgrove’s Centra, Highland Motors and Modern Motors while on the other side there is the Pinehill Business Park.
Not far away, on the town side, there are three schools plus a number of major employers.
He stated that “much needed homes” are being built in this area but if they are encouraging people to walk the Council should make it safer to do so.
In the official response, Cllr. Devine was told that there is a series of Active Travel and Traffic management projects in the pipeline for the N56 road leaving Letterkenny.
This includes the section from Knocknamona to Mountain Top roundabout, and will incorporate safety measures, including “possible formal crossing points and/or other changes to cross section and junctions to address both safety and capacity.”
However, the prospects of action being taken in the short-term are not good.
Works will be carried out on the Creamery Junction to Knocknamona roundabout section first, and even then it will not be at the design and planning stage until 2026.
Both councillors also raised the difficulties faced by motorists attempting to turn right out onto the very busy N56 road.
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