Call for emergency escape route on Letterkenny's Four Lane road

An urgent review and the addition of an emergency escape route have been called for at the Four Lane road in Letterkenny.

Councillor Kevin Bradley, the Mayor of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District raised the matter at this month's meeting.

It has been reported that ambulances have encountered delays during emergency call-outs due to traffic at peak times.

Mayor Bradley said there is added urgency coming into the Donegal International Rally and summertime.

“That bollard is serving no purpose in the middle, what if something happens on that road?,” Councillor Bradley asked.

Councillor Ciaran Brogan, who seconded the motion, said that concerns had been flagged.

“The word on the street by people is there is no call for this big concrete bollard, that cost an absolute fortune and serves no purpose,” Councillor Brogan said.

The issue of access to and from Letterkenny along the Four Lane Road also arose at the recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee and at a number of other fora.

“Donegal County Council will engage further with the emergency services to examine the issue,” said a council spokesperson.

At the recent JPC meeting, Liam Ward, Director of Services with Donegal County Council, said: “There are clearly issues when there is peak traffic but plans are being put in place for the rally weekend which will bring increased traffic to the town, and we will work as far as we can to ensure emergency vehicles are not inconvenienced to go about the job they have to do.”