Traffic proposals to go on display today

Traffic proposals to go on display today

28 October 2015

AMBITIOUS plans to improve traffic flow through Downpatrick will be unveiled to the public at Down Arts Centre today.

Detailed plans for the creation of a new one-way system for Edward Street, St Dillon’s Avenue and John Street to reduce congestion associated with the town’s largest primary school, Our Lady and St Patrick’s Primary, will be one of the main proposals on display, alongside plans for improvements to the junction at Collins Corner and to widen Fountain Street.

There will also be details of a proposed park-and-ride scheme for the Belfast Road side of Downpatrick, which will be designed for commuters who live at the southern side of the town including Ardglass, Killough and Ballyhornan.

These schemes are among those the Department for Regional Development has prioritised for the next three years.

They will be featured alongside proposals for longer term proposals including a one-way system along Market Street, Irish Street and St Patrick’s Avenue and 

a potential link road from Irish Street to St Patrick’s Avenue through the PSNI site.

These projects have been included in the DRD’s plans for the next three to 10 years, while another proposal to improve junctions at the Downe Hospital, the Flying Horse Road and Killough Road junction and the junction at Ardglass Road and Edward Street is also on a long-term list.

Anyone interested in the proposed schemes is invited to attend the public information day, which will be hosted by staff from the Department for Regional Development from 9.30am-4pm.

The plans will be on show to mark the launch of a public consultation process about how Downpatrick’s traffic might be best managed in the coming years.

Heather Bradley, from the DRD’s Traffic and Network Development department, will host today’s session.

She said she was looking forward to hearing the general public’s views about these schemes and also from those with properties along affected routes. She said Department for Regional Development officials were particularly keen to hear from residents of Edward Street, St Dillon’s Avenue and John Street in relation to the proposal for the new one-way system.

She said the projects at Fountain Street and Collins Corner were likely to be the first projects carried out and were expected to be of significant benefit to traffic flow.

“We are looking for solutions about how to keep traffic moving. You have to get the balance between a vibrant town and traffic progression,” said Mrs Bradley.

This is an ongoing process and there will be further opportunities for the public to give their views,” said Mrs Bradley.

“We will assess views about the various schemes and see if there is potential to take them forward.  This process is still very informal and people can still come to us at any time at Rathkeltair House.”

After today’s launch, plans will be available for viewing in the foyer of Rathkeltair House until November 12.