Special workshop sought on worsening condition of local roads in Letterkenny area

This month's meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District heard how "roads have depreciated very badly” in Gortnacorrib and Glenkeo near Kirkstown in particular.

Councillor Gerry McMonagle told the MD Roads section how hundreds of metres are now pockmarked by potholes. He said conditions around Kirkstown Forest were 'nearly impossible for people' for road users to navigate.

Cllr McMonagle said a more substantial programme of repair work would now be needed instead of patching.

“It’s going to need a new surfacing job to be honest,” he told the council.

Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford, Ciaran Brogan, said the wider roads issue had become so serious that the municipal district should hold a dedicated workshop on the matter.

Cllr Donal 'Mandy' Kelly also raised concerns about the broader problem of roads deteriorating across the area.

Cllr Kelly said he had received calls about two roads completed last year under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), with concerns already being raised about their condition. He questioned whether the issue lay with the tar or another aspect of the surfacing process, and asked whether bitmac, which he said had been discussed in Stranorlar, might be considered instead of tar and chip.

“It’s not lasting,” he said of tar and chip.

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Cllr Kelly added that there was frustration among members of the public over delays in getting crews back to complete works under some LIS schemes. He said local people were contributing 10% towards these projects and "the least they should get" is to expect the work to be finished properly.

"People are telling me they are struggling to get our own men back to complete the works. The feeling that I am getting from our own road staff is that there is an element of concern there as well," said Cllr Kelly.

Cllr Brogan also asked whether the roads section currently had a full complement of staff on the ground.

In response, senior roads engineer David McIlwaine said the section was currently two to three staff short and that efforts were being made to bring in seasonal workers.

Cllr Brogan asked whether Human Resources could be asked to fast-track the recruitment process.

Mr McIlwaine said the road network had come through a very severe winter, with extremely wet conditions causing significant damage.

He said the council did have a road patcher available, but better weather conditions were needed before it could be fully used.

He added that the council could facilitate a workshop with members, but warned that there was no funding available to add more roads to the resurfacing list this year without having an impact on roads already included in the programme.

Mr McIlwaine committed to speaking with council members on patching and temporary works in the meantime.