Concern has been expressed by business groups and motorists in Letterkenny with confirmation that five months (21 weeks) of roadworks are scheduled for Letterkenny starting in May.
And the bad news is that the extensive work MUST be carried out during daytime hours which promises even more traffic congestion.
The work being carried out by Cleantech Group on behalf of Irish Water is an upgrade of the existing sewer network on Pearse Road, Oldtown, Charley Daly Terrace (R250 towards Ballymacool) and Plunkett O’Boyle Terrace (Back Road).
Letterkenny Chamber said members attended the open showcase regarding Irish Water work in the town that included all the areas of forthcoming work.
A spokesman said they voiced their concerns at this opening evening and requested a follow-up meeting to get more detail.
A spokesperson explained “At very short notice, we were invited to and did attend, a meeting with Irish Water, Donegal County Council and the contractors and we asked the businesses in the immediate vicinity to attend.
“This meeting enabled all of us to voice our concerns about the impact of the works and the contractor explained their initial traffic management plan and schedule of works.
“We then asked for a further meeting that was arranged for last week where we talked in more detail regarding the traffic management plan. It was also attended by some of the businesses in the area.”
Starting on 13th May the planned works are to start on Pearse Road adjacent to Larkin’s Lane and will continue west to Station House Hotel, cross the road, then north up Old town Road to the roundabout at Lower Main Street, then west for approximately 180m.
The last phase is at the junction and heading up Plunkett O’Boyle Terrace (Back Road) for 120m.
Part of the construction will involve piling which CANNOT take place at night.
A spokesman for the chamber added “This piling is very deep and cannot be carried out at night due primarily due to safety concerns and also due to residential property and a hotel in the area. The extent of this work is significant and we have made every effort to ensure the contractor and authorities get this work carried out as quickly as possible.”
The traffic during the works will be one way on Oldtown Road.
All traffic coming from the Retail Park that wants to go West will have to go right at the junction behind McDonalds. Traffic wanting to go to Oldtown will be diverted up Oliver Plunkett Road then right, down Lower Main Street.
Car Parking spaces will be removed at the top of Lower Main Street (near Clarke’s Newsagent) to allow for larger vehicles turning in the junction.
There will be traffic management people on the junction at Larkins Lane, top of Oliver Plunkett Road and Lower Main Street to stop and direct traffic and to keep it moving.
The work from Pearse Road to Dunnes will take approximately 13 weeks. After that the Pearse Road west bound will re-open.
The Chamber spokesperson added “This work will cause traffic issues. In our meetings we have emphasised the need for a robust traffic management plan including signage on all entrances to Letterkenny advising traffic heading for Glenties and Dungloe to go via N56.
“We have also emphasised the importance of Traffic Management personnel at all times and very specifically on hand when we see traffic building up.
“The Chamber infrastructure committee have made various suggestions throughout these discussions to the Irish Water team that they have taken on board. There have been more suggestions made over recent days that we have sent on to the Contractor.
“We have, at all times, asked that the contractor and council talk directly with businesses affected and work with them as best they can.
“We have requested further follow-up meetings with the various parties involved in the project so that we can ensure the impact on our business community is minimised as much as is possible.”
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