Christmas traffic talks needed before it’s ‘too late’ - Donegal News

CHRISTMAS may be three months away but calls have already been made to establish traffic plans for the festive lead-up in Letterkenny.

CHRISTMAS may be three months away but calls have already been made to establish traffic plans for the festive lead-up in Letterkenny.

A traffic meeting was held with council representatives and gardaí prior to Christmas 2025. However, it has been claimed that it took place “too late in the year”.

The topic of Christmas arose at Tuesday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District (MD) amid several traffic-related motions.

“Can I ask this MD to support my call that we arrange a meeting ASAP with gardaí Roads Section and all other relevant people to discuss traffic for the run up to Christmas,” said 100% Redress councillor Tómas Seán Devine.

“I do believe we need to sit down now and plan ahead, I think there are traffic lights that are seriously causing unnecessary delays.”

Cllr Devine has previously expressed dissatisfaction with traffic lights in the town, such as the lights at McGinley Motors and the roundabout at the new Dunnes Stores.

Back in January’s MD meeting, he suggested that some traffic lights added to congestion in the run-up to Christmas last year.

“Last year we had a meeting with gardaí but it took place too late in the year,” said Cllr Devine at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I have seen no change from last year to this year, and just running into this Christmas we don’t want to end up with the same issues.”

He further suggested that some traffic lights be “covered up” to ease the flow of vehicles and queried the law on yellow boxes.

The motion was seconded by Independent councillor Michael McBride.

“We need to make sure there’s a plan in place for the sheer volume of traffic,” he said.

As the motion was passed, Cllr Devine was told: “Donegal County Council will engage with An Garda Síochána and invite them to participate in a meeting with the relevant stakeholders to discuss traffic management measures and arrangements for Letterkenny during the busy Christmas trading period.

“In addition, the Roads Section will make every effort to minimise disruption to traffic by restricting roadworks on the main road network during December to essential and emergency works only, where practicable. It is recognised, however, that unforeseen circumstances may arise which necessitate urgent works in the interests of road safety, public safety, or the continued operation of the road network.”

Cllr Devine also called for the Knocknamona Road leading to the N56, next to Little Angels School, be opened for one-way traffic.

In outlining the motion, he said: “I believe this would help relieve school traffic congestion and that traffic coming up the N56 could turn left into the school. The way traffic congestion is in Letterkenny everything that can help should be explored.”

The written response to that motion reads: “The introduction of a one-way system at this location would necessitate the provision of either an entry or exit junction onto the N56. Such a proposal would require the approval of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), together with an assessment of the potential impact on traffic movements and road safety along the national road network.”

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