Councillors seek road improvement at junction

Councillors seek road improvement at junction

15 February 2012

CONCERNS about increasing traffic congestion at a busy road junction in Downpatrick have prompted calls for a new filter lane.

Councillors Éamonn Mac Con Midhe and Liam Johnston believe a new filter lane — located at the Ballynoe Road junction with the Killough Road — would facilitate motorists wishing to turn left towards the town centre.

They say the scale of the congestion, particularly in the morning, is such that cars are tailed back along the Ballynoe Road as far as Bishopsbrae.

Councillor Mac Con Midhe said motorists who use this road every day have complained about the regular tailbacks and said there have been a number of accidents at the busy junction.

“It has been suggested that the introduction of a filter lane at the Ballynoe Road for drivers wishing to turn left towards the town centre would alleviate part of the congestion problem. It’s a proposal which I believe should be actively considered.

“Since the completion of the new Downe Hospital and the continuing works at the Downshire site, there is an increased volume of traffic coming from the Ballydugan and Bonecastle roads to the Ballynoe Road.”

The Downpatrick councillor said that unfortunately, there has been no traffic management plan put in place to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

He added: “The Ballynoe Road/Killough Road junction is now very busy at varying times of the day. Emerging onto the Killough Road from both the Flying Horse and Ballynoe roads is becoming more hazardous as frustrated motorists take more risks. In recent months there has been quite a few accidents and it’s only by luck that no one was been badly hurt.”

Councillor Johnston said the volume of traffic at this part of Downpatrick which is already heavy, is only going to increase when a number of statutory bodies relocate to the Downshire site.

He added: “Éamonn and I will be asking the Roads Service to survey the Ballynoe Road/Killough Road junction with a view to implementing measures that will ensure both the smooth flow of traffic and the safety of motorists.

“We plan to contact Roads Service officials to arrange a meeting to see what improvements can be made at this increasingly dangerous junction.”