Plans are underway for a new multi-million euro inner relief road in Ballybofey.
It has been confirmed to Donegal Daily that a consultancy firm has been appointed to progress the Ballybofey/Stranorlar Western Link Road.
The road is not part of the planned Twin Towns Bypass, however, it is envisaged that it will take heavy vehicles away from Navenny and Glenfin streets.
Local councillor, Patrick McGowan, said he has been pushing for the new route for a number of years.
“I put it in motion two years ago for an inner relief road, in anticipation of the bypass,” he said today.
The location at Navenny, where the proposed new relief road could start.
Cllr McGowan said the rationale behind the road is to take heavy vehicles around the town centre, before they travel on to the bypass.
“This new relief road will mainly benefit traffic on the back road between Crossroads village and Ballybofey. Currently, heavy traffic coming to and from the Aurivo/Donegal Creameries plant at the Cross have to travel into Navenny Street before going on to Ballybofey’s Main Street.
He has proposed that the relief road will connect Navenny, near Finn Park, to the Donegal Road. As a result, traffic will be able to avoid the Navenny and Glenfin street bottlenecks, before taking the new link road to the bypass.
“This could mean a new bridge over the Burndennett stream, with the relief road running around SuperValu, before connecting to the Donegal Road near Mulrine’s factory,” Cllr McGowan explained.
“We know a Tsunami of traffic is going to hit Ballybofey, and we’re getting ready for that.”
Cllr Patrick McGowan
Donegal County Council has already allocated €50,000 to the project in both 2019 and 2020 budgets for the planned relief road. A further €50,000 has been allocated this year for preliminary design work.
A council spokesperson confirmed to Donegal Daily that Clandillon Civil Consulting Ltd has been appointed to the project.
“The consultant is currently undertaking the preliminary design stage of the project in accordance with the Department of Transport’s ‘Common Appraisal Framework for Transport Projects’. This stage of the process includes preliminary and detailed appraisals of the scheme,” the spokesperson said.