Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for the €1 billion Ten-T road project in east Donegal are to be published in January.

Councillors at today’s special meeting of Donegal County Council were also informed that works could start in 2028, with a completion date of 2032. 

The project will see the construction of 42km of road network between Letterkenny, Manorcunningham, Lifford and the Ballybofey Stranorlar Bypass. This includes the Bonagee Link/Bridge over River Swilly to ease traffic congestion in Letterkenny.

The Ten-T Project route map.

Mr Brian Reid, Executive Engineer with the council, outlined the scale of the proposed development at today’s meeting. He said it would entail the purchase of around 1,500 acres of land, affecting 450 landowners. An additional 34 residential properties will have to be acquired as well as four commercial parcels and five uninhabited homes. 

“A lot of people are being affected in a very significant way, so consultation has been an integral part of the process, but we are at the design stage now,” Mr Reid said. 

Another council engineer, Damian McDermott, told the meeting the overall project will cost between €780m and €915m and almost 40 people are working within the consultation group. 

“Our goal is not just to publish (CPOs etc), but to deliver the scheme – everything must be right,” he said.

“We’re at the very final stage now and very much looking at publishing in January. However, we would have to allow for one or one-and-a-half years of delays in the event of appeals. We are looking at a five year construction period, with completion date in 2032”. 

Cllr Ciaran Brogan, who sought today’s presentation, said the Ten-T project will be a game changer for Donegal and the north west.

“This will be the single biggest development for the north west,” he said.

“I had hoped it would start sooner, but it’s a massive project and we saw what happened with the A5 (appeal). The project team is doing great work and they are making sure they are dotting all Is and Ts”.

However, Cllr Brogan added, the council needed to release a press statement to let the general public know what’s going on.

“A lot has happened recently and the people need to know what stage we’re at. People often mention the bridge over Swilly, but they don’t know where we are at in relation to the Ten-T. It’s great to see where we’re at and that Donegal and the Ten-T is now sitting in pole position, nationally, in terms of road projects”.

Cllr Donal Coyle agreed, describing the project as a ‘game changer’ for the region. “Coming in from Letterkenny and seeing the traffic situation there, the new crossing of the River Swilly with the new Bonagee bridge will be a great relief to many,” he said. “I understand why it’s taking so long – you only have to look at the proposed Galway Ring Road – it also reached this stage and all of a sudden it was gone”.

Cllr Patrick McGowan said traffic congestion was causing air quality issues in the Twin Towns.

“Ballyshannon and Bundoran and Donegal Town bypasses and road projects are done – now we need to move to Ballybofey and Stranorlar,” he said.

CPOs for €1bn Donegal Ten-T road project to be published in January was last modified: October 31st, 2025 by Staff Writer

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