N13/N15 - Ballybofey/Stranorlar bypass [planning decision pending]

Kermit.de.frog · 14-05-2026 01:54PM

A cheap second rate scheme for a forgotten county which was to be expected.

Pete_Cavan · 14-05-2026 07:44PM

The N15 between Bundoran and Ballybofey is relatively good and I can't see any major upgrades happening this century. There are much worse sections of the National road network which need addressing. The easiest improvement here would be buying up some houses with direct access onto the road. Really, there should be a government policy of buying up and demolishing houses along N roads, particularly older houses in need of major renovation.

I truth, T3DC is probably overkill for the Ballybofey/Stranorlar bypass. I'd assume it will be placed to the side while the other two elements this package are progressed. I can see this new policy regarding roads with a limit >80 km/h inhibiting the improvement of the road network.

cartoncowboy · 15-05-2026 09:52AM

As a regular user the road, its encouraging to see this finally put in the hands of the planners and hopefully it progresses quickly now. The road surface within Ballybofey and Stranorlar is in pretty bad shape currently, given the amount of traffic funnelling through it on a daily basis.

The twin towns are literally choked when you consider the on street parking along with the narrow carraigeway and multiple pedestrian crossings within the towns. Having all that traffic moving through at a snails pace with the emissions being produced isn't ideal at all for the locals.

So having said that, does anyone predict that the money being used for the bypass will include provision for the complete resurfacing of the road within the towns or will Donegal CoCo have to cover it from their yearly roads allocations? Or maybe even apply for RRDF funds with a view to doing a public realm enhancement scheme if the bypass funds are forthcoming.

muffler · 15-05-2026 12:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124469772#Comment_124469772

The good news is that resurfacing works of the main streets is to commence in the second half of the year. The funding is in place and I'll see if I can get more details of the start/finishing points.

DumbBrunette · 15-05-2026 02:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124468642#Comment_124468642

I would have thought the Twin Towns bypass would be the first to progress given they have been waiting so long for a bypass and ABP let them down in 2009 by denying permission.

muffler · 15-05-2026 02:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470134#Comment_124470134

An update on this. Resurfacing works starting at Lidl in Ballybofey and ending at Ulster Tyre Company in Stranorlar are scheduled to start in June and completed in November with most works to be carried out at night. The pedestrian crossing are to be raised (ramp like I presume) with the notorious crossing at the BOI moved about 15 metres further down the street.

Edit: sorry, most of the work will be daytime with a limited amount at night.

Pete_Cavan · 16-05-2026 07:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124470480#Comment_124470480

I assume this element will have a weaker business case and that the others will be higher priorities politically. I'd assume the separate parts to be progressed to construction separately and that this one would be bottom of the list. Obviously it will also depend on how planning goes and what decisions and conditions are placed on the different elements.

muffler · 16-05-2026 09:56AM

I think I read somewhere in the past that all three strands of the TEN-T project are planned to be carried out simultaneously. If there are to be prioritised strands then I believe (and hope) the twin towns bypass should be given priority if for no other reason than its been kicked around for over 50 years.

There will however be a huge push to have the bridge built over the Swilly river in Letterkenny. If the delays with getting the A5 moving through Tyrone continue then I think the Manor-Lifford road will be the least urgent of the 3 strands and this scenario may well be a relief for TII as this part of the overall project is probably the most expensive.

DumbBrunette · 16-05-2026 12:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472634#Comment_124472634

I'd be very pleasantly surprised if they build all three projects at once. I agree the N14 will probably be last because of the faffing around with the A5.

Of the other two projects I'm not sure. Ballybofey definitely needs a bypass, the traffic counter south of the town has AADT of 8k to 9k and north of the town it's over 10k. There aren't many towns the size of Ballybofey with that level of through traffic that have no bypass or relief road of any kind.

Pete_Cavan · 17-05-2026 06:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124472904#Comment_124472904

I would have thought that the faffing around with the A5 would make the N14 more important. The electorate won't buy that excuse. The Irish government can't do anything about the state of roads in the North but they can deliver adequate roads within their jurisdiction.

N13/N15 - Ballybofey/Stranorlar bypass [planning decision pending]

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