DONEGAL County Council is to review how it carries out road works on the Letterkenny dual carriageway following numerous complaints from the public.
Road users have been hitting out over considerable traffic congestion after lanes on each side of the dual carriageway were closed off to permit hedge-cutting of the central reservation.
Highlighting the matter at the March meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council, Clouncillor Tómas Seán Devine asked that “all roadworks that are not classed as an emergency be carried out on a weekend.”
“It was sheer madness the traffic disruption caused by the two lane closures on the dual carriageway recently,” he said.
“Traffic disruptions in Letterkenny are bad enough this is seriously damaging and having an effect on people coming to the town to shop and visit.”
In an official reply, Cllr. Devine was told that “the maintenance of vegetation, such as hedge and grass cutting, is essential for road safety on the dual carriageway. For environmental reasons it is essential that as much of work as possible is done within the hedge cutting season.
“To reduce the amount of hedge cutting out of season it is necessary to carry out cutting as late in the season as
possible.
The reply continued: “It is not possible to carry out these works without causing some disruption to traffic. These works have been carried out on weekends previously and complaints have also being received regarding disruption.
“A review will be carried out to see where improvements can be made. As this is a dual carriageway specialist traffic management is required and availability of these crews impacts on the timing when these works can be carried out.”
The Council has apologised for any inconvenience caused.
Cllr. Devine added thay most of the complaints were from people who observed that there was a lane closed but no work was going on at the time.
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