Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas Cheann Comhairle has received written confirmation from the Department of Transport that works are to continue on the N56, N14, and N15.
Major works at Mountcharles, Kilmacrennan and Dungloe Glenties are set to continue and all three jobs should be completed by end of 2019, with work to the N14 and N15 set to be complete by 2027.
In addition, a further three major works are to commence after tendering in summer 2019 on the Dungloe to Cloghwally, Letterilly to Kilraine and Frosses Crossroads to Inver Bridge.
Works will commence on these three projects after tendering is completed in Summer 2019.
“The Department has allocated the following to the three major N56 projects for 2019. N56 Coolboy Kilmacrennan Realignment Scheme €4,000,000, N56 Mountcharles to Drumbeigh €3,000,000, Drumbeigh to Inver Bridge €1,000,000 and N56 Dungloe to Cloghwally €1,000,000, N56 Kilkenny to Letterilly €4,000,000 and N56 Letterilly to Kilraine Junction €1,000,000.
“These road projects when completed will make a major difference to the N56 and will greatly benefit all road users using the N56 in those respective areas.
“It is important that throughout 2019 that the TII and Donegal County Council plan for the next phases of these projects, more is required to be done on the N56 in order to bring it to the standard required and expected nowadays.
“In the case of Drumbeigh to Inver Bridge, Letterilly to Kilraine and Dungloe to Cloghwally these three new jobs are to go to tender in early 2019 with works to commence in mid to summer 2019 these three,” added Pat the Cope.
“In addition to the major improvement works the following were confirmed by the Department of Transport to me for road improvement and road overlay grants:
- N56 Ardaghy to Dunkineely Surface Replacement €1,822,851
- N56 Ardara Town €482,994 continuation of works
- N56 Barnes Lower Pavement Strengthening €175,000
- N56 Creeslough Pavement Strengthening €175,000
- N56 Dungloe North Pavement Strengthening €304,087
- N56 Dungloe South Pavement Strengthening €709,536
- N56 Dunkineely to Bruckless Pavement Overlay €1,346,097
- N56 Keeldrum to Fanaboy Pavement Strengthening €175,000
- N56 Stragar (also part FID 1781) Pavement Overlay €100,000
- N56 Stragar Surface Replacement €360,000
- N56 Straleeny/Aghayeevoge Killybegs overlay €498,948
Pat the Cope added: “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.
“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.
“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 three 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.
“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 stated Pat the Cope.
“I have already highlighted this matter to the TII when I recently met with them and in the Dáil to the Transport Minister Shane Ross when I raised the matter of the entire national primary and secondary roads in Donegal to him.
“I had raised this matter with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII ) when I met with them recently – I stressed to them the massive volume of traffic which uses these roads on a daily basis.
“The allocations confirmed to me are as follows:
- N14 Ballyholey Surface Replacement €349,251
- N14 Dromoghill €655,783
- N15 Ballybogan Pavement Reconstruction €331,000
- N15 Cappry to Ballybofey €518,526
- N14 Tullyrap €1,000,000
- N15 Corcam Bends €750,000
- N15 Cappry Junction €68,500
- N15 McGroary's Brae €1,000,000
- N14/N15 to A5 Link €250,000
- N15 Blackburn Bridge Realignment Scheme €25,000
It is essential that TII and the Department progress the Ten T projects which are the Ballybofey/ Stranorlar bypass, the Bonagee Link Road- Letterkenny and the Manorcunningham to Lifford road to link with the A5.
“Until we radically improve access to our overall region and moreover within our county then economic growth will not maximise to the potential needed are required to foster employment and sustain future and further growth,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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