PROPOSALS are in place for the redesign of a dangerous junction located on the dual-carriageway into Letterkenny and a public consultation is to be held next week to give local residents an input.

The Trimragh/Drumardagh junction is located on one of the county's busiest stretches of road.

Mr Aidan O'Doherty of the National Roads Design Office as previously stated that it was always his belief that the junction would have to be closed in the interest of public safety.

On that particular stretch of road, traffic volumes have increased over the last ten years from 7,000 to 19,000 vehicles daily. According to Mr O'Doherty, this number continues to increase. He felt that in light of this, the central median could be closed fairly easily and then applications could be made to the NRA to improve the existing junctions, as the sight-lines need to be improved. A number of possible options were then proposed, with the preferred option emerging as the one which will see the closure of the central median and the re-design of the 'left in' and 'left out roads' on both sides of the junction.

The total estimated cost of this project is ¤270,000, with a time-frame of two years for completion of all the works.

At this week's Letterkenny Electoral Area meeting, Councillor Dessie Larkin stressed the importance of giving local people the opportunity to put their own input into plans for the junction.

Currently there is an embargo on the development of approximately ten new houses in the townland of Drumardagh because of the dangerous junction. Councillor Larkin suggested that perhaps once a final decision had been made regarding the junction that the embargo be lifted to allow developments to proceed. He added that given the average time-frame for building a house is one year people should be allowed to proceed with the planning process.

A public information session is to be held in the Clanree Hotel next Wednesday, 14 March from 4pm to 8pm whereby the public will have the opportunity to view the preferred junction option and other junction options which had been considered. They will also be able to discuss any concerns relating to these junction options as representatives from Donegal County Council and the National Roads Design Office will be in attendance.