Dunkineely to Killaghtee Active Travel scoping ‘will assist possible development”

Scoping funding to investigate the possibility of an active travel project from Dunkineely out to Killaghtee on the Killybegs side of the village as well as extending a footpath out towards the Naomh Ultan’s GAA from the centre on the Donegal Town side, has been secured.

But members of the Donegal Municipal District were told at their September meeting that this was not a guarantee, such a project would come to fruition, but it was certainly a positive step in that direction.

The funding to start surveys would bring those proposals forward ‘to a point where they can make a call on that”.

Acting Area Manager for Roads and Transportation, Mark Sweeney told councillors:

“The National Roads Office have advised that they have secured funding to commence scoping works and survey works to assist in the possible development of an active travel project to help address the issues previously raised by the Members about pedestrians walking along this narrow section of the N56 National Secondary Route between Dunkineely and Killaghtee.

“Also, as part of these scoping works consideration will be given to extending the footpath out as far as the GAA pitch on the eastern side of the town that was also raised by the Members at a previous MD meeting," he said.

Cllr Noel Jordan (SF) welcomed some positive news on that front:

“Some of the measures required, there is no doubt that this needs to be done and are required until there is a bypass at Dunkineely which is well down the road.”

On another related Dunkineely matter regarding the monitoring of the flashing lights within Dunkineely, Mr Sweeney said that this matter was referred to ‘Road Central’ who manage the contractors who look after the maintenance of the school flashing lights.

He was advised that the contractor is currently waiting on approval from the TIl (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) to upgrade these lights to include solar panels.

Cllr Jordan also welcomed the proposals as did Cllr Barry Sweeny (FG).

Cllr Niamh Kennedy (Ind.) added that it was to see progress on this matter, but wanted to know who was carrying out the scoping.

“More and more people are walking on that road. It is a step in the right direction but it needs to be something that is done sooner rather than later,” she suggested.