Teenagers walking on the Windyhall Road in Letterkenny are ‘taking their life into their hands’, Donegal County Council has heard.
The road, which connects Killyclug to the Kilmacrennan road, has been described as one of the most dangerous in the county.
Cllr Ciaran Brogan made the call for urgent safety works at Windyhall during the September meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.
Cllr Brogan told the council that he was confident that if €500,000 was sought from the Department of Transport, it would be granted.
“This is urgent, this is something that needs to be top of the agenda. You need at least half a million before you dip your toe in the water,” Cllr Brogan said.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle seconded the motion and said that two cars are not able to pass safely on the road any more.
“Visibility is nearly nil and I have no doubt that if we put in an application for half a million that we would get it, given the importance of that road and the extent that it is used.”
Cllr McMonagle said he feared for the winter months on the road, adding that he has seen teenagers walking on the roadside “taking their life into their hands”. He added that he was not being overdramatic by saying that the lack of safety improvement on the road could cost lives.
The council’s road section acknowledged the speeding and congestion issues on the road and said there are various funding applications which could be pulled together to address the problems.
The Windyhall Road is included in both the large-scale priority Safety Improvement Scheme ( up to €200,000) and the Low-Cost Accident Schemes ( to the value of €30,000 or less ) priority lists that have been submitted by the Letterkenny Milford MD for funding.
The council said that works are progressing with the development of the Northern Relief road that would mitigate against the need for safety works on the Windy Hall Road. It’s hoped that works would begin in 2024.
