DONEGAL County Council is set to get an allocation of over €44 million from the Department of Transport for road projects in 2020.
A big chunk of the funding, over €33 million, will be spent on the N56, along with €2 million for the Ten-T project, €1.2 million on the N14 between Rossgier and Tullyrap, and €500,000 on the Four Lane Road between the Polestar and Dry Arch Roundabouts in Letterkenny.
Included in the package is €8m for the continuation of the Drumbeigh to Inver Scheme; €12m for Dungloe to Cloghbolie with works to commence in the first quarter of next year; and the Letterilly to Kilraine Junction received €9m with Tenders to be invited in 2020.
Other projects set to progress next year include: N56 Crolly to Loughanure – Pavement Overlay €600,000; N56 Dunkineely to Bruckless – Pavement Overlay €1,580,000; N56 Four Lane Letterkenny – Pavement €950,000; N56 Loughanure – Pavement €200,000; N56 Mountcharles Bypass – Pavement €600,000 and N56 Cyclelane from Illistrin to Letterkenny €300,000.
Welcoming the announcement Pat the Cope Gallagher TD said the N56 road is a critically important route for the entire north, west and south of the county, as the road in essence connects the entire county to the national primary road network. He said the N56 is the only artery connecting these parts of Donegal to the rest of the roads network and as such is subject to massive traffic volumes on a daily basis. Deputy Gallagher added that the road grants announced for overlay will go a long way to improving surfaces and increasing safety measures on these road sections.
“It is critically important that continued investment is made into this National Secondary Road and it is equally important that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) continue to make further plans to for additional improvements on the N56 once the current major works are completed. The N56 must be brought to the highest possible standards and be fit for purpose, so that once the A5 is completed – then the N56 regardless of where you are located on it must provide you with ease of access to the motorway connecting the northwest to Dublin,” said Deputy Gallagher.
“The ongoing improvement works on the N56 must be advanced and completed so that the entire north, west and south of the county can access overall road improvements into the region.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)