Congestion easing work is welcomed

Congestion easing work is welcomed

15 August 2012

WORK to provide a new traffic lane at a busy road junction in Downpatrick has been welcomed by a local politician.

Councillor Colin McGrath said the scheme at the junction of the Ardglass Road and Ballyhornan Road will facilitate drivers heading into the town from the Ardglass direction and is designed to reduce congestion.

Currently, vehicles wishing to turn right at the junction cause tailbacks to build up behind, but the addition of the new traffic lane will reduce this for drivers heading into the town centre.

Councillor McGrath said this section of the Ardglass Road carries

a high volume of traffic and suggested it’s important congestion is kept to a minimum given that emergency ambulances use this junction on their way to and from the Downe Hospital.

He said he welcomes the fact contractors are on currently site to provide the new lane and believes small schemes like this carried out at other road junctions across the town centre could help ease traffic congestion.

“There are many other pieces of work that could be completed such as a slip road at the St Patrick’s Avenue/Market Street junction and the addition of a so-called yellow-box at the Irish Street/Market Street junction.”

Councillor McGrath has also called for Scotch Street — which can only be accessed by delivery vehicles — to be “truly pedestrianised.” He also believes the provision of a slip road from John Street on to Irish Street would help alleviate congestion, along with a separate turning lane from Irish Street into Market Street.

He continued: “While all small pieces of work, they would bring big solutions to the traffic problems we often have in Downpatrick town centre.

“Politicians met recently with Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy and I would like to see his support which he pledged on the day turning into action on the ground, with the schemes I have suggested being implemented.”

In addition to smaller schemes, Councillor McGrath said there is also a need for the Roads Service to deliver on bigger projects in Downpatrick town centre.

He added: “These include the complete redevelopment of the Collins’ Corner junction, upgrading the Ardglass Road/Edward Street junction and a proposed new road from Irish Street to St Patrick’s Avenue.”