MOTORISTS approaching the Polestar roundabout in Letterkenny have expressed their dismay at witnessing two ambulances in 999 mode being significantly delayed by traffic congestion yesterday morning.
The incident has reignited the debate surrounding traffic delays in Donegal’s largest town which is particularly bad between 8:30 and 9:30 in the morning, Monday to Thursday.
“That was terrible. That was an awful situation. Two ambulances tried to pass me and I’d hate to have been in the back of one of those trying to reach the hospital. I couldn’t believe it. Two ambulances in quick succession on this road,” commented motorist Anne Marie Doherty.
“They have put concrete and trees between the four lanes but that should have been made into an emergency lane. There has to be emergency access into the town so that the hospital can be reached without any delay,” she added.
Approximately five minutes apart, the ambulances were trapped in traffic at around 9am yesterday morning on the dual carriageway between the Dry Arch Roundabout and the Port Bridge Roundabout, commonly known as the Polestar.
“You’ve just seen a prime example. That ambulance couldn’t get through for 6 or 7 minutes because there’s no third lane. When the old system was here they could have gone up the central reservation. I’m not impressed with the new system,” said driver Mark Ewing.
“Cars were up on the footpath and against the barriers. They need to rethink this system. The proposed Bonagee Bridge over the Swilly to relieve traffic has to happen because we’ve just witnessed how the emergency services can struggle,” added Mr Ewing.
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