Name: Pádraig MacLochlainn has called for a series of linked multi-million euro road projects in the Laggan area between Derry and Letterkenny to be added to the government’s critical infrastructure list.
Uploaded: 2026-11-13T14:53:51.000Z
Duration: 1 min 33 s
Description: Pádraig MacLochlainn has called for a series of linked multi-million euro road projects in the Laggan area between Derry and Letterkenny to be added to the government’s critical infrastructure list.

Pádraig MacLochlainn has called for a series of linked multi-million euro road projects in the Laggan area between Derry and Letterkenny to be added to the government’s critical infrastructure list.

The €915m Donegal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) project includes the upgrade of the N56-N13 between Letterkenny and Manor, the realignment of the N14 between Letterkenny and Lifford, and the N15-N13 Ballybofey to Stranorlar bypass.

It incorporates the the proosed new Bonagee link and bridge over the River Swilly that campaigners believe is necessary to ease traffic congestion in Letterkenny.

The Buncrana-based Sinn Féin TD said: “The people of Letterkenny have waited many years for a relief road known as the Bonagee link. It has led to traffic misery not just for the people of Letterkenny but for people across County Donegal travelling to work and hospital appointments and for visitors to our county. There is utter bedlam regularly.

placeholder image — Sinn Féin TD Pádraig MacLochlainn

"The TEN-T project has been brought forward for a number of years. It takes in the relief road, the dual carriageway to Lifford on to the new A5, and the Ballybofey and Stranorlar bypass. Donegal County Council and the people of Donegal are asking the Taoiseach to make this a critical infrastructure project and make it progress urgently as soon as possible so we can deal with the traffic bedlam in Letterkenny and the other major roads issues in the county.”

The Taoiseach Michéal Martin said the project is progressing.

"On roads, we expect Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the county councils to deliver them once they are through the planning processes and so on. However, we do not put every road project on the critical infrastructure list.

"We have to prioritise some of the very big ones to make sure they progress through. However, I will certainly talk to the Minister for infrastructure to see if any particular issues are holding this back now,” he said.

The Donegal road projects are part of the trans-European transport network, TEN-T, a selection of strategic transport corridors identified by the European Union, as having a key role in ensuring the mobility of passengers and goods.