Upgrade at accident black spot after eight-year fight

Upgrade at accident black spot after eight-year fight

21 January 2015

AN eight-year campaign to enhance road safety at a sweeping bend near Loughinisland has ended in success.

The Roads Service has confirmed it plans to improve safety levels at the Loughinisland Road’s junction with Tareesh Lane by upgrading sight lines.

Councillor Patsy Toman, who bows out of local politics at the end of March when Down Council merges with its neighbour in Newry and Mourne to form one of 11 new super councils in the Province, is delighted the work is to be carried out.

He hopes roads officials will also address a road safety issue at Loughinisland Lake and provide a new safety barrier.

Councillor Toman said there had been a number of accidents at the Tareesh Lane junction over recent years, the most serious resulting in two school children waiting for a bus being knocked down by a car.

“This stretch of road has become rather notorious locally and there have been a series of accidents,” he said. “I have been campaigning for this particular stretch to be improved and am delighted the work is to be carried out.”

Councillor Toman said confirmation of work will be welcomed by local residents who use the road on a regular basis.

Turning to the issue of the safety barrier, Councillor Toman said there was an urgent need for it to be erected along the banks of the lake to prevent vehicles from potentially driving into the water.

He said the provision of a barrier should be accorded “priority status” and hoped money to finance its construction can be found.

“The Department of Regional Development is aware of local concern about this particular issue and I hope it will react in positive fashion.

“Roads officials have carried out a survey at the main road adjacent to the lake and agreed that a safety barrier is required. A detailed technical survey paving the way for the erection of the new barrier has also been completed. Now all that is required is the money to finance this scheme.”

Councillor Toman added: “Safety on our roads is paramount. A safety barrier at Loughinisland Lake is urgently needed to increase the safety of all motorists who use the Loughinisland Road.”