The Mayor of Letterkenny has claimed that businesses on a section of the Pearse Road are struggling to stay open due to the road layout.
Cllr Kevin Bradley said he has been contacted by business owners who feel they are being “victimised” due to the one-way system on the Pearse Road.
“Businesses are suffering, especially on the left hand side of the road, because you have to go around the town to get back to them,” Cllr Bradley told this week’s sitting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.
The Mayor called for an immediate review of the island junction between Pearse Road/Paddy Harte Road/Larkins Lane. Cllr Bradley said the island was intended to be temporary, and that a roundabout should be considered while a planning application for apartments at the junction is before the council.
Issues with space and funding were raised by the council in relation to a roundabout, while Cllr Bradley was told that the alternative option would be traffic lights which are also funding-dependent.
Cllr Michael McBride said the junction is a long-running issue, describing it as “the worst junction I have ever seen in a major town in my life”.
Cllr McBride called on the council to take an hour to see the manoeuvres being made at the site.
“The provision of a safe junction there is something that needs to be dealt with in the short term,” Cllr McBride said.
The council said there is currently no funding available to make amendments to this junction.
“Previous investigations concluded that given the restricted area of land available, the current junction layout provides the most efficient traffic flows and minimum traffic delays, taking into account available lands, traffic demands and budgets,” a spokesperson said.
The Roads Area team have programmed to paint the island in the coming months.
“Amendments to this junction may be examined in the future through the Letterkenny Town regeneration scheme subject to works programme and funding,” the spokesperson added.
