Another solution has been proposed to ease traffic gridlock on one of Letterkenny’s busiest commuter routes – the Ramelton Road and Kiltoy area.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle has called for a yellow box on the Business Park Road Roundabout to facilitate traffic coming from the Kiltoy Road.
This, he said, would enable the Kiltoy Road traffic to access the Gortlee and Business Park Roads.
Cllr McMonagle raised the proposal at today’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District. However, he was told that an analysis of both the Knocknamona and Kiltoy Roundabouts deemed yellow boxes would “further disrupt the flow of these high-volume roundabouts, cause other safety issues and would not generally provide significant operational benefits.”
Cllr McMonagle was told that there were issues with the roundabout being in a 60kph zone and that there would be no sightlines for traffic approaching the inner ring.
On the other hand, he was also told that it’s an opportune time to bring solutions forward, as works take place on the Creamery and Ballyraine roundabouts which are included in the TII active travel schemes.
“If we can alleviate some pressures for people trying to go about their business it’s a win for us all,” Cllr McMonagle said, adding his disagreement with a “desktop” analysis.
It is hoped that the TII can devise a solution as part of this scheme.
“It’s there for all to see, the roundabouts are not fit to take the volume of traffic,” Cllr McMonagle said.
“Traffic from Kiltoy is blocked back up Lisnennan and a lot of that traffic is blocking the Creamery Roundabout because they want to access the Business Park Road.
“Surely a yellow box will allow the free flow and stop one of the lanes of traffic jams there at peak times.”
Cllr McMonagle asked for his proposal to be looked at again.
“The cost of a yellow box is going to make a lot of people happy,” he said.
