Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas Cheann Comhairle has welcomed confirmation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) that steady progress is being made on the three N56 road projects.
A contractor has been appointed for the N56 Dungloe to Glenties to construct the road section between Kilkenny to Letterlily.
A request to appoint a contractor is expected in the next few weeks for the N56 project for Coolboy to Kilmacrennan.
Regarding the third project – the N56 Mountcharles to Drumbeigh – ongoing assessment of the tenders is underway and a contractor is expected to be appointed by the end of December.
Pat the Cope said: “I welcome the progress being made on these road projects at present and I will maintain the pressure on the TII and the Government in order to get actual road construction started.”
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has confirmed the following updates on the progress of current N56 projects within the county at present.
- The Kilkenny to Letterlily N56 contract has been awarded by Donegal County Council to Fox contracting. The planned improvement scheme covering from Kilkenny to Letterilly on the Glenties to Dungloe road will involve widening and realignment to Type 3 Single Carriageway (6.0m Carriageway with 0.5m hard strips). The project also includes a cycle track for its full length. The scheme is 3.6km long and has an estimated completion cost of €12 million euro.
- The Coolboy to Kilmacrennan N56 tender assessment is ongoing we expect to receive a request from Donegal County Council to award this contract in December 2017. The proposed N56 Coolboy Kilmacrennan scheme is located an approximate 5 km north of Letterkenny and is a continuation of the N56 Mountaintop to Illistrin project completed in 2009. The existing road is narrow (approximately 6m wide with neither shoulders nor verges) and has a substandard horizontal and vertical alignment. There are 5 local road junctions with restricted junction visibility on this section. The 3.15km long scheme will involve the widening and realignment to Type 2 Single Carriageway (7.0m Carriageway with hard strips) of the N56. The project will significantly improve safety for road users and will maintain consistency of cross-section between Letterkenny and Kilmacrennan.
- Tenders were received on the Mountcharles to Drumbeigh N56 scheme last week and will be subject to assessment over the coming weeks. The proposed works will involve the design and construction of approximately 2.75km of new National Secondary Road to Type 1 Single Carriageway. This scheme commences at the tie-in with the Mountcharles Bypass and continues to Drumbeigh and when complete the project will cost an approximate €15 million.
Pat the Cope added: “It is critical that we continue to invest in our roads within the county, especially in the context of the forthcoming Brexit and the very increasing rural – urban imbalance which exists in this country.
“Infrastructural investment in rural areas is essential to act as a catalyst for future growth and regional development.
“I expect that Donegal County Council and the TII will now put in place further plans for future investment in the N56 along with investment in the N13, N14 and the N15 ; all of these National roads provide critical access to our county and our regions and as such warrant sizeable investment by central Government,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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