Busiest junction work could ease congestion

Busiest junction work could ease congestion

25 May 2016

ROADS officials hope to begin work on a scheme to improve traffic flow at one of Downpatrick’s busiest road junctions during the current financial year.

Five roads converge at Collins’ Corner in the town where roads officials are planning to provide two new additional traffic lanes.

One will facilitate drivers wishing to turn right from the Killough Road into Pound Lane and those wishing to turn left from Pound Lane on to the Killough Road. A new footpath along a section of the Killough Road is also proposed.

It was hoped work on the scheme would start last year but a revised scheme had to be drawn up following a geotechnical survey of land at the former Downe Hospital which is needed to provide the new junction realignment.

Councillors were told at Monday night’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council that subject to successful land acquisition and funding being made available, work on the proposed junction upgrade will start over the next year.

The Collins’ Corner scheme is one of a number of projects included in a new town centre traffic management plan roads officials have proposed to help ease town centre congestion.

Councillor Dermot Curran has welcomed plans to upgrade Collins’ Corner and hopes other schemes which would not cost a significant sum to implement can progress over the coming months.

He believes banning drivers wishing to turn right from Market Street into St Patrick’s Square could ease congestion at this part of the town, alongside the relocation of a bus stop close to the Bank of Ireland in Market Street.

Councillor Curran said while the immediate priority for roads officials is addressing congestion problems in Market Street and St Patrick’s Avenue, some minor tweaks in the town centre could help reduce snarl-ups. 

He said improving traffic flow is vital to help grow the local economy and tourism industry.