Letterkenny councillors seek meeting as Polestar lights set for switch-on

Councillors in the Letterkenny area are seeking a meeting with contractors over the new traffic lights system at the Polestar Roundabout.

In excess of 40 traffic lights have been installed at the roundabout in an attempt to improve traffic flow.

The new system will be switched on on Tuesday, October 17. Donegal County Council has yet to confirm a time for the switch-on, but delays are expected as motorists get accustomed to the new road layout and traffic signals.

Letterkenny-based councillors say that they have already been receiving calls from local people who are concerned about the many lines painted, which designate the revised layout.

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Councillor Donal Coyle told a meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District that constituents are ‘apprehensive and concerned’.

He said that a crossover lane from the Four Lane to the Ramelton Road ‘seems very confusing’.

“I'm hoping that when the lights are switched on it will be more clear," Councillor Coyle said.

Councillor Donal 'Mandy' Kelly asked for councillors to meet with the contractors responsible for the project so that all members are ‘on the same page’ in terms of explaining the system to the public.

A testing period for the new lights will be in operation for several weeks.

The council issued a text alert message to the public in a bid to advise them exactly how to use the roundabout properly when it comes into operation.

The message says: "Road users must follow the white lining around the roundabout as marked. There is a crossover from the inside lane to the outside lane of the roundabout when travelling from Four Lane Road to Ramelton Road, which occurs opposite the Neil T Blaney Road junction.

“If this is not followed then the traffic coming from Neil T Blaney Road may not be able to access the roundabout when they have the green light to GO. There will be no more exiting to the Ramelton Road from the inside of the Roundabout."

Councillors were also told that the Donegal National Roads Office is preparing the design of the section of road between the Polestar Roundabout and the Creamery Roundabout with the plan to progress this project in 2024.

This development is funded by a €500,000 allocation from the TII for the N56 Letterkenny Urban Active Travel Scheme.