Pictured at the official signing of the contracts for these schemes: Back l-r): Aine McHugh, Executive Engineer NRO, Eamon Canney, Senior Engineer, NRO; John McLaughlin, Director of Roads & Housing Capital, Donegal County Council, Damian McDermott, Senior Executive Engineer, NRO, Aidan McCaul, Wills Bros Ltd and Rodney Irwin, Executive Engineer, NRO. Front (l-r): Patrick Duffy, Engineering Inspector, NRA, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council and Seamus Neely Chief Executive, Donegal County Council and Charles Wills, Wills Bros Ltd.
Donegal County Council is delighted to announced details of two major road projects commencing shortly.
When completed the N15 Blackburn Bridge Phase 1 Scheme and the N56 Boyoughter to Kilkenny Scheme will see significant improvements to two crucial routes in east and west Donegal.
The work in question will take place on the main Ballybofey to Donegal Town and Glenties to Dungloe roads and will last 12 months and 18 months respectively.
Both projects have been welcomed by Donegal County Council’s Chief Executive, Seamus Neely. He described the undertakings as “another example of the council working to improve the county’s road network”.
“These jobs when completed will see a major improvement for road users in both areas and ensure traffic flows freely and safely. It will also enhance the visitor experience while ensuring such infrastructural developments continue to prove Donegal is accessible and open for business,” he said.
The N15 Blackburn Bridge Phase 1 scheme is located approximately 2km south of Ballybofey. The existing road is narrow with no hard-shoulders or verges. The alignment of the road is very poor and potentially hazardous. Two fatal accidents have occurred on this section in the last ten years.
The proposed scheme is 2.5km in length and will involve widening and realignment to a 7.3m carriageway with hard shoulders. A new bridge structure to cross the Burn Daurnett river is included. The project will significantly improve safety for road users and access along the N15.
Works are expected to commence in July 2015. The contract duration is 12 months. There will be some, occasionally significant, disruption to traffic during construction. The scheme is expected to be opened to the public by summer 2016.
Boyoughter to Kilkenny Scheme
The N56 Boyoughter to Kilkenny scheme is located approximately 12km south of Dungloe through the village of Lettermacaward and including the Gweebarra bends. This is a second section of the N56 Dungloe to Glenties Low Volume National Secondary road improvement project funded by the NRA with the N56 Cloughbolie to Boyoughter Scheme opened in 2011.
The existing road is narrow (approximately 5.5m with neither hard shoulders nor verges) and the horizontal and vertical alignments are particularly poor over the majority of this section. There are nine local road junctions, all with restricted junction visibility.
The scheme will involve widening and realignment to a 6.0m carriageway with 0.5m hard strips. The project also includes a cycle track for its full length, 1.5km of which uses bypassed sections of the old N56. The project will significantly improve the level of service for road users especially cyclists and tourists on the Wild Atlantic Way. It will enhance the general accessibility of West Donegal including the access to the Regional Airport at Carrickfinn and to the Gaeltacht areas.
Project construction will commence this month, June. The contract duration is 18 months with the scheme expected to be opened to the public by early 2017.
Will Bros Ltd. has been appointed contractor for both sets of works.
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