N14 - Letterkenny to Lifford [preferred route published; design underway]

Amtmann

This was mentioned in the Department of Transport's press release yesterday as possibly going ahead after 2011. I've not heard much about this scheme and I can find no maps of the proposed route.

But! It will be:

• 19 km long
• Type 2 Dual Carriageway

This route commences at the N13/N14 junction at Manorcunningham and continues to a junction with the N15 South West of Lifford. A separate project (N14/N15 to A5 Link) is being developed to link this scheme to the new A5 Western Transport Corridor being developed in Northern Ireland.

http://www.donegalcoco.ie/services/roadstransport/majorprojects/manorcunninghamstrabane.htm

ardmacha

They should run the new Derry route on the right bank of the Foyle and have a shorter link to Letterkenny. This would also provide a new Derry Letterkenny link and better justify the 26 county contribution to the project.

Chris_5339762

Absolutely shocking road!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lifford,+Ireland&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.641855,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lifford,+County+Donegal,+Ireland&ll=54.909284,-7.565117&spn=0.069473,0.222988&t=h&z=13&layer=c&cbll=54.903181,-7.564438&panoid=f6xen9J3YK0qgEpwbLwPkw&cbp=12,142.91,,0,-0.54

johnbk

I made a lot of effort early in the a5 project to get them to consider a west of Foyle option. They wouldn't even consider it. You are correct as this would have replaced the need for a new N14.

Letterkenny has approx 17,000 people. Derry city including the towns within 20 miles of it has a population of approx 237,000. The aadt at Lifford bridge is 17570. The a5 at Omagh has an aadt of 19260. These are inadequate roads that need upgrading.

If you consider the aadt at the a5 border of Monaghan is only 8430 then I would say the scope for increasing trade between Dublin and the north west is huge.

Also, this investment is a very important
part of the Good Friday peace agreement and I think the risk of cancelling the investment now is too large a risk for who ever is in government.

Jayuu

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Absolutely shocking road!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lifford,+Ireland&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.641855,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lifford,+County+Donegal,+Ireland&ll=54.909284,-7.565117&spn=0.069473,0.222988&t=h&z=13&layer=c&cbll=54.903181,-7.564438&panoid=f6xen9J3YK0qgEpwbLwPkw&cbp=12,142.91,,0,-0.54

I didn't realise that there were parts of Donegal in the Twilight Zone, or is this another one of Ireland's hidden tunnels?

Redsoxfan

johnbk wrote: »

I made a lot of effort early in the a5 project to get them to consider a west of Foyle option. They wouldn't even consider it. You are correct as this would have replaced the need for a new N14.

Any map of your proposed route?

johnbk

Its a long time since I was on the case with this road. Here was the response at the time; Its water under the bridge at this stage. As far as a map goes I did have one, Ill se if I can dig it out.


from Mouchel (Road designers) June in 2008


Roads Service has had a preliminary look at this option and decided it was not viable for the following reasons:

The A5 is one of 5 key Transport Corridors identified within the Regional Transportation Strategy which provides links to key cities and towns, and indeed air and sea ports, in the west of the province. Roads Service has a long term vision to upgrade all such routes to dual carriageway status and is also currently looking at the feasibility of linking the A5 to the A6 (Derry to Belfast) route on the south east of Derry city. The construction of a road to the west of the River Foyle would compromise both of these objectives.

The largest volume of traffic on the A5 is between Strabane and Derry and it is probable that a new route to the west of the River Foyle would be unattractive to, and therefore would not be used by, many of the existing users. This would clearly adversely affect the economic viability of such a route.

With regard to your email of 16 June regarding the recent traffic survey we can confirm the results of the ADT survey will be published on our web site when the results have been compiled.

johnbk

We had a debate on this at the time on SABRE


http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12854&start=80

and one here on Boards with a map
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055069437&highlight=northwest+motorway&page=2

johnbk

johnbk

I also have a drawing of the new Lifford-Strabane link road but I cant get my hands on it. Anyway is really simple; at the end of the new N14 which also bypasses Lifford a new roundabout is planned at the intersection of the N15. From this roundabout a short section will be build across the Finn connecting with another proposed roundabout on the A5. I have a sketch below.

nordydan

johnbk wrote: »

We had a debate on this at the time on SABRE


http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12854&start=80

and one here on Boards with a map
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055069437&highlight=northwest+motorway&page=2

There was a debate started from this thread I created:

http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19398

Map now gone unfortunately!

marno21

Seems to be movement on this according to Highland Radio.

http://www.highlandradio.com/2016/07/14/engineers-to-consider-three-road-projects-in-donegal/

marno21

Looks like this scheme will have to start from scratch.

http://www.highlandradio.com/2016/09/26/blaney-says-three-major-road-projects-will-have-to-have-studies-redone/

annfield1978

Halcrow Barry/ RPS JV due to be appointed for these three projects

N13/N15 Balleybofey Bypass
N14/N56 Relief Road
N14 Letterkenny to Lifford

marno21

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders/ViewNotice/187380

Tender awarded to RPS Halcrow Barry, as posted above by annfield1978.

marno21

TII are looking to perform traffic surveys this month along the relevant routes to this scheme:

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=120002&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders

marno21

Timeline for the advancement of this project, which includes the old N14/N15 to A5 Link bridge.

Stage | Completion date
Public consultation on route options | Q2 2018
Preferred route selection | Q3 2018
Completion of preliminary design | Q1 2020
Publication of CPO & EIS | Q3 2020

marno21

Public consultation on this taking place next week:

Donegal wrote:

RPS CH2M Barry assessed the Constraints within the defined study areas for the Project and presented these to the public at a consultation held on 6th December 2017.

The Design Team have taken feedback obtained during the consultation meetings and are currently progressing with the route selection process including the development and assessment of route options for the three Sections, which will be presented at public consultations to be held as follows:

Where: When: Time:
Radisson Blu, Letterkenny Tuesday 17th April 2018 2:00pm - 8:00pm
County House,Donegal County Council, Lifford Wednesday 18th April 2018 2:00pm - 8:00pm
Jacksons Hotel, Ballybofey Thursday 19th April, 2018 2:00pm - 8:00pm


The Emerging Preferred Route will be identified during the second half of 2018 and presented to the public to obtain further feedback, prior to the Preferred Route being confirmed.

Following confirmation of the Preferred Route, a Design and Environmental Impact Statement will be produced.

Any comments/queries can be submitted via our online Feedback Form

marno21

Route options are now up for public consultation. More information at www.donegal-ten-t.ie

Public consultation brochure: http://www.donegal-ten-t.ie/media/download_gallery/Public_Consultation_-_Stage_1_(Brochure)(1).pdf

Overall route options: http://www.donegal-ten-t.ie/media/download_gallery/SECTION%203%20-%20OVERALL%20ROUTE%20CORRIDORS.pdf

Individual route options: http://www.donegal-ten-t.ie/media/download_gallery/SECTION%203%20-%20INDIVIDUAL%20ROUTE%20CORRIDORS.pdf

marno21

Publication of the emerging preferred route for this scheme has now been deferred to Q1 2019. As a result the project submission to An Bord Pleanala will not happen until the first half of 2021. That'll be 5 years for Phases 1-4

marno21

Public consultation on emerging preferred route in the next 2 weeks. Details at this link: http://www.donegal-ten-t.ie/pages/timelineandoutlook.php

spacetweek

Those consultations are taking place Tues-Thurs this week. But is a map of the preferred route available?

marno21

spacetweek wrote: »

Those consultations are taking place Tues-Thurs this week. But is a map of the preferred route available?

Nope but I expect to see it in the next week. That's what happened the last time anyway - documents were put online after the public sessions were complete.

Hopefully no objections and it can go to ABP in 2021 as planned.

Donegal Storm

From reading the Donegal Ten-T website, the preferred route won't now be announced until Q2 (which as we know probably means Q3) so I wouldn't be too hopeful

marno21

It's the emerging preferred route which is being announced this week, there will be a short period after this where any feedback will be taken into account from the public consultation and the final route will be announced then in Q2.

marno21

Emerging preferred route:

http://www.donegal-ten-t.ie/media/download_gallery/SECTION%203%20-%20EMERGING%20PREFERRED%20ROUTE%20CORRIDOR.pdf

2+2 mainline it would appear.

Aontachtoir

marno21 wrote: »

Emerging preferred route:

http://www.donegal-ten-t.ie/media/download_gallery/SECTION%203%20-%20EMERGING%20PREFERRED%20ROUTE%20CORRIDOR.pdf

2+2 mainline it would appear.

Maybe I'm misreading it but it looks single carriageway to me. And no design at all for the bridge to join the A5?

marno21

Aontachtoir wrote: »

Maybe I'm misreading it but it looks single carriageway to me. And no design at all for the bridge to join the A5?

They're planning 2+2 as per the feasibility study, it definitely has the volumes for it anyway.

The A5 bridge already has planning as far as I know, it was just mothballed until this and the A5 mainline were progressed

spacetweek

For sure it's 2+2 ,you wouldn't have slip lanes for the junction halfway along if it wasn't.

It's very twisty and turny though.

riddlinrussell

spacetweek wrote: »

For sure it's 2+2 ,you wouldn't have slip lanes for the junction halfway along if it wasn't.

It's very twisty and turny though.

Yeah whats the craic with that bit near Letterkenny end where the current N14 is dead straight and the new road wiggles around it?

Kevwoody

riddlinrussell wrote:

Yeah whats the craic with that bit near Letterkenny end where the current N14 is dead straight and the new road wiggles around it?

At a guess I'd say it's to avoid as many houses as possible, also it's quite hilly terrain around there, so that'd be a factor too.

Over that distance it won't be as twisty as it looks on the plans anyway.