by Kate Heaney
LETTERKENNY’S success is one of the great stories of the north west, Cllr Ciaran Brogan told Tuesday’s Letterkenny Milford MD as councillors focused on traffic issues and the impact of the new traffic lights at the Polestar Roundabout.
The meeting was left under no illusion that it would take at least eight years to build the Bonagee link bridge however, it was acknowledged by all, that other improvements to surrounding road infrastructure and people’s travel times could improve traffic flows as the new lights have already done.
Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh’s first motion before the meeting was to discuss the concerns of motorists to the new traffic light system.
He opened his remarks by saying there was a “certain frenzy” building up around the issue and expectations, but with 35,000 vehicles a day using the four lane road, it will take a period of time to iron out some issues.
“Some of the commentary on social media is terribly, terribly negative with people talking about avoiding Letterkenny. We don’t need complications coming up to Christmas. Letterkenny is a great business town and we need to be promoting that.
“There is also a certain frenzy about the provision of a new bridge, but this needs a large dollop of reality around it. I don’t want anyone thinking we will have that bridge any time soon. It will take eight years to complete if everything goes according to plan,” Cllr Kavanagh said.
Cllr Donal Coyle said that while there was a “lot of adverse publicity about the lights, people have got used to using the Polestar Roundabout and there has been a lot of adjustment to them.” He called for the visibility of signs at the roundabout to be improved.
“Traffic lights were never going to solve the problem of traffic coming into town on their own. The Ten-T project with the Bonagee link is the answer. It may not be the full answer, but it is certainly part of it,” Cllr Coyle added.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said that there was a final realisation that the bridge would not be built this year or next even though it had been mooted more than 20 years ago but now “finally there is a road map to it”.
He stressed that the current situation cannot continue for eight years and called on motorists and council to look at park and ride facilities to get people to work, discussion of which, he said, seems to have gone by the wayside.
“My fear is that all the talk about traffic is going to damage our town and its economic viability and will put investors off coming to Letterkenny which is the retail, employment and hospitality centre of this county,” Cllr McMonagle said.
Cllr Brogan, who had a motion before the meeting requesting that the Roads and Transportation Directorate for the Letterkenny MDC update members on what funding had been applied for and allocated in the last three years as well as an update on all road projects from the various agencies involved. He spoke of all the different roads divisions which he said were “all working in their own wee silos”.
“We need to get them all in one room and discuss what can be done. The Letterkenny story is one of great success in the north west. If other towns are having a pop at us it is because they are jealous,” he said pointing out the number of companies located in the town since 1999. He added that it was “not a relief road needed for Letterkenny as seen by Donegal County Council” but road infrastructure that “is important for the whole county”.
He questioned why there was not a second lane from the Ramelton Road to the four lanes road.
Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly, supporting Cllr Brogan’s motion, said that in his opinion, “in reality Letterkenny is more like a city”.
“From talking to people the Polestar seems to be working well. If it is only eight years, I will be happy to take that – it doesn’t be long slipping around,” he added.
Councillors were told by Roads Engineer David McIlwaine that the other lights along the four lane will be activated on completion of the project.
The discussion concluded with Cllr Coyle saying that having spoken to people in the Chamber of Commerce they report that “business is the same as usual”.
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