N56 - Dungloe to Glenties

Harry Bolton · 26-02-2013 3:14am #1

Hi,

Just wondering if there is any updates on the next section of the Dungloe to Glenties road startting?.. The Cloghbolie to Boyoughter phase seems to be complete and I have heard the next phase Dungloe to Cloghbolie is due to start up soon?

freevoice · 03-09-2013 8:10pm

http://www.donegalcoco.ie/services/roadstransport/majorprojects/Dungloe-Glenties.htm the highlighted blue underlined Non tech Summary of EIS link has a pdf file that shows map plans and other info about the Boyoughter to Kilkenny Road Scheme thats underway now

marno21 · 23-10-2015 8:12pm

aaroadwatch wrote:

Works are taking place on the N56 Glenties/ Dungloe Rd until approx Dec 2016. Traffic management systems will be in place along the route and delays can be expected.

I presume this scheme is now under construction?

L1011 · 24-10-2015 1:00am

Part of started in June, south of the finished section and encompassing the worst section (Gweebarra)

spacetweek · 15-11-2015 1:16pm

L1011 wrote: »

Part of started in June, south of the finished section and encompassing the worst section (Gweebarra)

So it's from Boyoughter south to where exactly?
The Donegal Coco link above doesn't work anymore, they reorganised their site and made a mess of it. There now doesn't appear to be any info on their site about road schemes

spacetweek · 15-11-2015 7:50pm

Never mind, I found Kilkenny, Donegal on the map.

Anyone know when Cloghbolie-Boyoughter opened? I know it was done sometime in 2012/2013?

marno21 · 03-09-2016 3:40am

spacetweek wrote: »

Never mind, I found Kilkenny, Donegal on the map.

Anyone know when Cloghbolie-Boyoughter opened? I know it was done sometime in 2012/2013?

10 months after your post but anyway..

http://www.tii.ie/news/press-releases/opening-of-n56-cloghbolie/

marno21 · 19-12-2016 3:14am

Phase II of this, Boyoughter to Kilkenny, should be open already or if not very shortly.

Phase III, a 5km stretch from Kilkenny to Letterilly, is ready to tender and should start next year if funding becomes available: http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/223456/n56-upgrade-in-glenties-area-continues.html

Would love more information if anyone local knows it.

marno21 · 14-01-2017 2:32am

€1m has been allocated for land acquisition along the scheme in 2017.

€350k has been allocated for the finishing of the Boyoughter to Kilkenny element which is now all but finished.

€500k has been allocated for the 4km Kilkenny to Letterilly scheme to proceed to tender and construction in 2017.

marno21 · 17-03-2017 11:55pm

Photo from the recently completed Boyoughter to Kilkenny segment

1489679103702_1489679140.jpg--_17m__funding_for_key_roads_projects_in_donegal.jpg?1489679141000p

1489679103702_1489679140.jpg--_17m__funding_for_key_roads_projects_in_donegal.jpg?1489679141000p

Phase 3 Kilkenny to Letterilly is to start in Autumn 2017.
Phase 4 Letterilly to Glenties to start 2019.

http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/news/240482/17m-funding-for-key-roads-projects-in-donegal.html

marno21 · 03-04-2017 5:51pm

Phase III of this has gone to tender today.

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=110122&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders

spacetweek · 03-04-2017 9:55pm

He looks very cold!

L1011 · 03-04-2017 10:28pm

A Glenties Bypass, which was utterly ignored in this scheme, is needed also. Normal days its fine, but in summer I have spent 20mins getting down the main street. Terrain is always a problem around here, but it should be plausible to go West of the town fairly cheap.

They also need to figure out how to fund upgrading the R252 as, when this is done and Mountcharles-Inver is done, there will be a section of woeful R road that is the signed route between two bits of upgraded T3 N road.

Kevwoody · 04-04-2017 10:24am

L1011 wrote: »

A Glenties Bypass, which was utterly ignored in this scheme, is needed also. Normal days its fine, but in summer I have spent 20mins getting down the main street. Terrain is always a problem around here, but it should be plausible to go West of the town fairly cheap.

They also need to figure out how to fund upgrading the R252 as, when this is done and Mountcharles-Inver is done, there will be a section of woeful R road that is the signed route between two bits of upgraded T3 N road.

No disrespect, but if Letterkenny can't get a second bridge over the Swilly, there's not a hope of a tiny town like Glenties getting bypassed. And 20mins to get through the town? Not a hope, not even on harvest fair day would it take that long.

marno21 · 04-04-2017 2:31pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

No disrespect, but if Letterkenny can't get a second bridge over the Swilly, there's not a hope of a tiny town like Glenties getting bypassed. And 20mins to get through the town? Not a hope, not even on harvest fair day would it take that long.

A second Swilly bridge in Letterkenny (on the N56 Relief Road) is in planning. A Glenties bypass is not.

Kevwoody · 04-04-2017 3:19pm

marno21 wrote: »

A second Swilly bridge in Letterkenny (on the N56 Relief Road) is in planning. A Glenties bypass is not.

There's a reason it's not in planning, it's a ridiculous suggestion. The second bridge over the Swilly has been talked about for years locally but despite being in planning, it's still no closer to being started, with TII saying they have no money for it.

Also, I'm not quite sure why you quoted my post and not the one above, which is where the suggestion for a Glenties Bypass came from. Being from Letterkenny, I'm well aware of what is, and what is not, in planning.

marno21 · 04-04-2017 10:06pm

In response to the road safety issues in Donegal, TII are proceeding with the N56 Relief Road/N13 DC upgrade, N14 Letterkenny-Lifford and N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar BP. These have been put into planning and will likely be funded as part of the next roads programme. Whilst it's disappointing that there is no funding at present, at least they are pipeline projects and due to the shortage of same, will likely be built in the next tranche of roadbuilding projects.

The Glenties bypass at present remains a desire of the poster above as there is none in planning. However, when the N56 upgrades are complete and if Glenties is identified as a choke point, a relief road for the town isn't beyond the bounds of imagination.

L1011 · 05-04-2017 8:21am

Kevwoody wrote: »

No disrespect, but if Letterkenny can't get a second bridge over the Swilly, there's not a hope of a tiny town like Glenties getting bypassed. And 20mins to get through the town? Not a hope, not even on harvest fair day would it take that long.

Mountcharles got bypassed. Size of town does not equate to traffic problems caused

Kevwoody · 05-04-2017 2:45pm

L1011 wrote: »

Mountcharles got bypassed. Size of town does not equate to traffic problems caused

Mountcharles is on a much busier section of the N56, and was a serious traffic congestion point before it was bypassed, Glenties is simply not, and never will be. There is really no comparison between the two.

L1011 · 05-04-2017 2:49pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

Mountcharles is on a much busier section of the N56, and was a serious traffic congestion point before it was bypassed, Glenties is simply not, and never will be. There is really no comparison between the two.

Traffic count data given in various EISs does not agree with "much busier". ~3500AADT around both; but Glenties has much more internal traffic.

In summer its quite plausible to be over ten minutes waiting at the old hospital to get on to the main street alone, let alone further delays.

Kevwoody · 05-04-2017 3:30pm

L1011 wrote: »

Traffic count data given in various EISs does not agree with "much busier". ~3500AADT around both; but Glenties has much more internal traffic.

In summer its quite plausible to be over ten minutes waiting at the old hospital to get on to the main street alone, let alone further delays.

Can't post a link as I'm on my phone, but 2017 AADT count outside Donegal Town on N56 is 5369, 5.6% of which is HGV Traffic. N56 at Dungloe, which is the closest to Glenties I can find data for, is 2734 AADT, 3.6% HGV.

So yea, I'd say much busier is a fair statement.

L1011 · 05-04-2017 3:50pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

Can't post a link as I'm on my phone, but 2017 AADT count outside Donegal Town on N56 is 5369, 5.6% of which is HGV Traffic. N56 at Dungloe, which is the closest to Glenties I can find data for, is 2734 AADT, 3.6% HGV.

So yea, I'd say much busier is a fair statement.

Donegal Bypass and a rural bit of road outside Dungloe are not either location we're talking about here.

The town is a mess for traffic and could be bypassed cheaply.

Kevwoody · 05-04-2017 4:04pm

L1011 wrote: »

Donegal Bypass and a rural bit of road outside Dungloe are not either location we're talking about here.

The town is a mess for traffic and could be bypassed cheaply.

It's outside Donegal Town, not the bypass but closer to Mountcharles. And Dungloe rural?? It's a lot larger and busier than Glenties!
Also, "could be bypassed cheaply ". There's no such thing as a cheap bypass, money is far better spent realigning bad bends and dangerous junctions, not towns that are "busy in summer".

L1011 · 05-04-2017 4:05pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

It's outside Donegal Town, not the bypass but closer to Mountcharles. And Dungloe rural?? It's a lot larger and busier than Glenties!
Also, "could be bypassed cheaply ". There's no such thing as a cheap bypass, money is far better spent realigning bad bends and dangerous junctions, not towns that are "busy in summer".

I said "rural bit of road", not that Dungloe was rural. You appear to be going out of your way for an argument here.

The TII traffic counter that you have figures from at Donegal Town is on the bypass - the bypass is not only the N15.

Kevwoody · 05-04-2017 4:09pm

L1011 wrote: »

I said "rural bit of road", not that Dungloe was rural. You appear to be going out of your way for an argument here.

I'm really not, all I'm saying is there is no comparison to traffic levels at Mountcharles and Glenties. You threw out a figure of 3500 AADT, the figures I quoted, while not being exact locations, are a lot more accurate to the discussion.

Anyway, that argument aside, Glenties does not, and most likely never will, warrant a bypass.

L1011 · 05-04-2017 4:12pm

Kevwoody wrote: »

I'm really not, all I'm saying is there is no comparison to traffic levels at Mountcharles and Glenties. You threw out a figure of 3500 AADT, the figures I quoted, while not being exact locations, are a lot more accurate to the discussion.

They're miles away on roads with completely different usage profiles. They're irrelevant.

I'll have to dig up the EIS for the current schemes as the council no longer has them on their website, but they have actual figures and they are rather similar.

Kevwoody wrote: »

Anyway, that argument aside, Glenties does not, and most likely never will, warrant a bypass.

And that is something I'm not going to agree on. Smaller towns on lesser (regional generally) roads have had bypasses done where there has been similar options - a reduced route length and avoiding a delay.

Kevwoody · 05-04-2017 4:15pm

L1011 wrote: »

They're miles away on roads with completely different usage profiles. They're irrelevant.

I'll have to dig up the EIS for the current schemes as the council no longer has them on their website, but they have actual figures and they are rather similar.

And that is something I'm not going to agree on. Smaller towns on regional roads have had bypasses done where there has been similar options - a reduced route length and avoiding a delay.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree then so :-)

discodaveirl · 28-04-2017 10:10pm

Drove this road today, first time since the works were completed, great bit of road and is making Lettermacwardand Dungloe much more accesable, the next phase into letterilly is going to be a great help also, presume that there'll be a new bridge put in closer toward glenties...

L1011 · 30-04-2017 12:06am

discodaveirl wrote: »

Drove this road today, first time since the works were completed, great bit of road and is making Lettermacwardand Dungloe much more accesable, the next phase into letterilly is going to be a great help also, presume that there'll be a new bridge put in closer toward glenties...

No plans for another bridge.

marno21 · 15-05-2017 1:24pm

Article on the realignment of the Gweebarra bends: http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/motoring/249817/taking-the-bends-out-of-the-gweebarra-another-massive-road-project-opens-in-donegal.html

discodaveirl · 15-05-2017 6:13pm

Any map of the planed next phase?

spacetweek · 07-06-2017 8:55am

After I complained, the completed Cloghbolie-Boyoughter scheme is now shown correctly on Gmaps. The aerial imagery is old though.

marno21 · 07-06-2017 4:47pm

spacetweek wrote: »

After I complained, the completed Cloghbolie-Boyoughter scheme is now shown correctly on Gmaps. The aerial imagery is old though.

Fair play to you. The difference in alignment on the aerial vs map is now stark, serious work done here.

Donegal Storm · 09-06-2017 1:46am

Has the Gweebarra bends section been updated on the map? No sat imagery so can't really tell. The road looks fairly straight so I assume it has been updated but the old road isn't shown, have they closed off the old bends?

Donegal Storm · 12-06-2017 2:25pm

Drove this road for the first time since the upgrade yesterday, really good job done taking out all the bends and merging seamlessly with the bridge. Lots of big cuts through solid granite hillsides as well

And to answer my own question, yes, the old bends have been closed off. A bit of a shame as it was an iconic section of road but definitely a big improvement

spacetweek · 12-06-2017 9:55pm

Donegal Storm wrote: »

And to answer my own question, yes, the old bends have been closed off. A bit of a shame as it was an iconic section of road but definitely a big improvement

Has the surface been taken up and returned to grass?

Donegal Storm · 13-06-2017 2:53am

The realignment is essentially a whole new road, the old Gweebarra Bends section hugs the coastline while the new road cuts straight through the side of the valley.

As far as I could tell, the old road is still mostly there but as a mix of local access and as part of the cycleway, there's no continuous road that you can drive along anymore.

As I said it's a shame in a way, similar to the corkscrew in Doochary that disappeared around 15 years ago, terrible stretches of road but they'll live long in memory for their character

marno21 · 26-09-2017 7:17pm

Tender to be issued for Phase 3, Kilkenny to Letterilly shortly: http://donegalnews.com/2017/09/major-upgrade-n56-completed-18-months/

marno21 · 29-11-2017 9:56pm

N56 Kilkenny-Letterilly awarded to Fox Contracting. Starting shortly. 3.6km. €12m. Early 2019 opening

https://www.donegalnow.com/news/pat-cope-welcomed-progress-made-n56-road-projects/196673

Kevwoody · 30-11-2017 12:20am

marno21 wrote:

N56 Kilkenny-Letterilly awarded to Fox Contracting. Starting shortly. 3.6km. â‚¬12m. Early 2019 opening

Hopefully they have a new project manager since they carried out the work at Quinn's Cross Roundabout outside Limerick.
It was a total disaster of a job from start to finish, there's a thread on it here in the Limerick section. Can't post a link as I'm on my phone.

discodaveirl · 11-12-2017 9:11pm

Passed from Dungloe to Glenties last Friday, Fox Contracting have a track machine and container at a freshly made compound along the route.. Also various Pegs can be seen driven in fields approx 50-100 meters in distance... Great to see some progress...

Donegal Storm · 02-01-2018 9:57pm

Drove the N56 earlier and a site compound has been set up and topsoil stripping seems to have started right at the end of the recently opened Gweebarra Bends section

Edit: Posted in the wrong thread originally so didn't realise this was already reported above!

marno21 · 05-01-2018 6:58pm

Phase 3 of this, between Kilkenny and Letterilly has been allocated €6m in 2018.

Phase 4 has been extended and will now be a realignment between Letterilly and the R262 junction south of Glenties. Will likely start in late 2019 when the current phase finishes up.

Donegal Storm · 05-01-2018 11:10pm

Interesting, does that mean a Glenties bypass?

It'd be great to get the R262 upgraded as well as it's essentially the main national route as is yet it's in a terrible state. Suppose we won't be seeing any major R road upgrades until the national network is up to scratch

marno21 · 05-01-2018 11:13pm

Donegal Storm wrote: »

Interesting, does that mean a Glenties bypass?

It'd be great to get the R262 upgraded as well as it's essentially the main national route as is yet it's in a terrible state. Suppose we won't be seeing any major R road upgrades until the national network is up to scratch

Nope, just both N56 approaches to Glenties. I should've made it clear in the original post

R262 will likely be upgraded in the future but that's outside the remit of TII. N56 Inver-Killybegs will probably be on the table after Dungloe-Glenties is done.

Donegal Storm · 05-01-2018 11:31pm

Thought that'd be a bit much, hopefully it'll include a redesign of the junction with the main street to give priority to the N56 if nothing else.

The only issue then would be people abandoning their cars in the middle of the main street while they pop into the shops

marno21 · 15-01-2018 12:27am

DONEGAL: A stop/go system will be in place for works on the N56 Glenties/Lettermacaward Rd between Letterilly and Kilkenny until approx. May 2019. Reduced speed limits of 50km/h will be in place until Jan 14th 2019.

From aaroadwatch. Works starting in earnest now

marno21 · 28-01-2018 11:44pm

https://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/news/293897/work-starts-on-next-stage-of-n56-project.html

Article on Phase 3 just started.

Phase 4 likely to start in 2019, both sides of Glenties as far as the R262 junction. No Glenties bypass.

rightyabe · 11-03-2018 10:45am

Where could I find a layout plan of the new route Kilkenny to Leitirilly and any compulsory purchases of land that where needed?

L1011 · 11-03-2018 11:18am

There were significant CPOs. All the docs went missing when the council redesigned their website so some severe archive.org digging is needed

rightyabe · 11-03-2018 1:07pm

L1011 wrote: »

There were significant CPOs. All the docs went missing when the council redesigned their website so some severe archive.org digging is needed

Significant in cost or size of the land?

N56 - Dungloe to Glenties

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