By Dionne Meehan
A LOCAL councillor has called for immediate improvement works on a section of the Lifford Road after this week saw a second collision occur in less than a month.
This comes after a section of the Lifford Road near Mondooey was closed on Tuesday as a result of a single vehicle road traffic incident involving a truck.
Despite no injuries being reported, similarly, on May 28 a driver had to be taken to Letterkenny University Hospital after a lorry left the road near Drumoghill.
Although the injuries sustained were not life-threatening, Cllr Donal Coyle fears if works aren’t carried out “immediately” there is going to be a very serious, if not a fatal accident.
Previously raising the issue on a number of occasions by submitting motions to Donegal County Council, Cllr Coyle said he will be raising it again at the first meeting of the new council.
“A couple of weeks ago a lorry went off the road altogether.
“And as far as I am aware, this week a lorry jack-knifed and ended up across the road in the hedge,” he said.
Describing the road as “not fit for purpose”, Cllr Coyle said the road needs “urgent” attention.
“The road itself needs strengthening.
“As it is, when you are travelling along that road, the road surface is deteriorating and is leaning towards the banking.
“I think that is really the problem.
“I suppose it is something the engineers need to look at and come up with a solution to because it is frightening what may happen,” he said.
Apart from the strengthening works needed, Cllr Coyle said the road has to be widened as well as a crash barrier installed.
“Transport Infrastructure Ireland has to take responsibility for that road.
“The amount of traffic that uses that road on a daily basis, it is the main artery from Letterkenny to Dublin.
“At the end of the day, the sooner we get approval to proceed with the Ten T project the better because until that is done the Lifford road is not fit for purpose,” he concluded.
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