By Eilisha Devlin
CHRONIC traffic congestion has led a school principal in Letterkenny to urge students to walk and cycle in a bid to ease early morning gridlock.
Schools across the county returned in full last week and in Letterkenny, there have been heavy delays almost every morning and evening.
The traffic build-ups at Errigal College on Letterkenny’s High Road have been complicated by the road works on the Active Travel Project.
School principal, Danny McFadden, has written to parents and guardians to ask them to arrange to collect students away from the vicinity of Errigal College to ease congestion at the school gates.
He is also encouraging children to walk or cycle to school where possible.
Principal of Errigal College Danny McFadden.
A two-way cycle facility and pedestrian crossing are being introduced as part of the new road lay-out on Kilmacrennan Road. The hope is that the works will be completed by some time in October, but in the meantime Mr McFadden wants families and students to play their part at the busy school times.
“We need more people walking and cycling to school to save time and reduce carbon emissions,” Mr McFadden said.
His key message for all the students, especially in the mornings, is get up early and be organised to avoid traffic disruption.
“Leave early, if travelling by car, and follow the safety measures if walking.”
He added: “We’ve written to parents to ask them to arrange to drop off their children and collect them at areas away from the school gates which is a bottleneck.
“It can be extremely busy when you consider there are 730 pupils as well as the school staff all arriving or leaving the school around the same time.
He added: “I would like to compliment Donegal County Council and those involved in the ongoing works for their help and support and for keeping me informed of the process.”