Posted online: Mar 18th, 2010

Plans to build a €200 million-plus dual carriageway which will complete the link from Letterkenny to Lifford are set for further delays – because no money has been allocated for the project this year.
The section of road between Pluck and Lifford is one of the worst sections of the Letterkenny – Dublin route.
It had been indicated that a target date of 2016 was earmarked for completing the Pluck – Lifford section. When complete, it will mean there will be a four-lane dual carriageway from Letterkenny to the border.
Although council sources are reluctant to predict a start or completion date, they privately admit that the N14 Letterkenny – Lifford/Strabane project could now be delayed by years.
A 19km route has been identified and preliminary design works, an Environmental Impact Statement and Compulsory Purchase Order documentation has been completed.
The Donegal National Road Design Office had sought approval to publish the CPO and EIS this year, but now has no funding to do so.
It has now also emerged that a new link section of road to tie in with the A5 road in Strabane will have to be re-designed. A new bridge will be built over the River Finn in Lifford.