Letterkenny councillors have unanimously backed a move to hit the brakes on two major Active Travel schemes amid mounting anger over gridlock in the town.
Councillor Ciaran Brogan’s motion called for works planned on the Circular Road and Ballyraine Road to be suspended while specialist traffic consultants examine short, medium and long-term solutions for the town.
The vote came hours after Evolve Clothing, based in Letterkenny Retail Park, warned that businesses “will” close if the worsening congestion continues.
The retailer said journeys that once took 15 minutes were now taking up to an hour. It also claimed that customers were avoiding Letterkenny and travelling to Derry or smaller towns instead.
“We are not against cycling, footpaths or safer crossings. We are for a town that works — for families and for business. At the moment we have neither,” they said.
Cllr Brogan told Tuesday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District that the town’s recent traffic problems were damaging public confidence despite Letterkenny’s success.
“Letterkenny has been a very successful town, and a lot of people have invested heavily in the town to make it what it is today,” he said.
He said recent Active Travel works had not helped the daily challenges faced by road users.
Cllr Brogan said he was receiving frequent complaints and suggestions “every half hour” from people proposing solutions.
He argued that several traffic-related motions brought before the meeting showed that councillors shared the same concerns, but not all were being listened to.
“We are all saying the same thing: we need solutions,” he said.
Proposed Letterkenny Active Travel Projects – L1007 Circular Road
Proposed Letterkenny Active Travel Projects – L1007 Circular Road
Cllr Brogan’s main argument for delaying the Circular Road works was the planned Northern Relief Road, also known as the Killylastin-Windyhall Road. The project recently received support through the Housing Infrastructure Investment Fund (HIIF) and has an indicative cost band of between €10 million and €20 million.
“The Circular Road runs parallel to the Windyhall Road, and it would make no sense whatsoever to have both sets of works taking place at the same time,” Cllr Brogan said.
He said the relief road would make a major difference to traffic in the area.
Construction activity is expected to begin during 2027 and the programme has a target of substantial completion by the end of 2028.
The project is intended to unlock land for 654 residential units.
Entrance to Windyhall road from the Kilmacrennan Road. Photo: Donegal Daily
Cllr Brogan said he was not opposed to every Active Travel project and identified the Old Farm Road route to Atlantic Technological University as one that should be progressed.
The council’s written response defended the existing Letterkenny Transport Plan and recommended that all projects “be progressed as quickly as resources and procedures will permit”.
It said the town’s transport plan had been adopted following public consultation and engagement with key stakeholders, and that Active Travel formed part of a wider strategy that also included strategic roads, a town bus service and a permanent transport hub.
The NTA and TII have earmarked an investment of €20M in the town in this type of infrastructure.
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The council said specialist transport and traffic consultants had already been engaged through the Integrated Land Use and Transport Strategy and through assessments of individual projects.
The council also said the Active Travel projects generally would not reduce the number of vehicle lanes and that some junction approaches would actually gain lanes when the Ballyraine and Creamery roundabouts are replaced by signalised junctions.
Active Travel works currently underway on the N56 Corridor at Ballyraine
Signalised junctions are being installed at the Ballyraine Halls Roundabout on the N56 corridor.
Although the motion was passed, the council has not confirmed that either project has been formally suspended.
Acting Director of Service Eamonn Browne said the result of the vote would be brought to the senior management team.
He acknowledged the congestion problems but said there was no single answer.
“There is no single solution. It will require a combination of measures,” he said.
Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly said he was “very happy” to second the motion today.
“What has been lacking for a long time is common sense,” he said.
He said the motion could “throw a lifeline” to Letterkenny if supported.
Cllr Kelly said Active Travel had been premature, although he stressed that he was “never fully against it”.
He questioned whether some road space designated for cycle lanes could instead have been used for bus lanes or emergency-services lanes.
“When you see the width of the cycle lanes, there is plenty of room for a bus lane,” he said.
The vote followed Monday’s announcement of €14.7 million for four Letterkenny regeneration projects.
The funding includes €9 million for a permanent transport hub, €5.4 million for the Letterkenny Cultural Corridor, €150,000 for LK Green Connect Phase 2 and €150,000 for Into Letterkenny.
Cllr Brogan said the transport hub could support the delivery of a town bus service and could be another facet of the traffic solution.
Other solutions outlined during the meeting included a one-way system on Knocknamona Road, reviewing signalised lights and yellow boxes, progressing relief roads and holding meetings with the NTA, bus operators, ATU, hospital management and Gardaí.
Cllr Brogan said the council now had an opportunity to find practical solutions and send out a positive message about the town.
“Letterkenny is open for business,” he said.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme