Hope for measures to ease speed of traffic at Link Road

WORK on a number of traffic calming measures in the area of the Strathroy Link road is expected to start next month following discussions between the Department for Infrastructure and local community representatives.

Last weekend, the PSNI carried out speed checks on the new stretch of road, which opened earlier this year, in response to the concerns expressed by local residents.

It followed a meeting late last month between community workers, local Sinn Fein councillor, Barry McElduff, and parish and school representatives to examine ways of slowing the traffic coming onto the Strathroy Road from the new link road.

They are particularly concerned at the speed of cars coming in that direction, especially with the increased number of pedestrians expected when the Christ the King Primary school re-opens. It is also hoped that the new measures would be ‘future-proofed’ to accommodate the opening of the nearby Strule Education Campus.

Community worker, Mickey Kelly, said it was important for motorists coming off the new Link Road to realise that they were coming into a built-up residential area.

“What we want to see is cars reducing their speed to the required level in the Strathroy Road area which is widely used by walkers. At the moment, many people perhaps don’t realise that they’re in a residential area after coming off the link road,” he said.

“We met with the Department for Infrastructure late last month and are hoping that a pedestrian crossing will be installed to help children and their families to cross when the schools re-open.

“It’s also hoped that the road might be widened slightly to accommodate the needs of walkers and that the work will begin in September.”

Cllr McElduff said the new measures were about enhancing the safety of pedestrians and schoolchildren going to Christ the King Primary school, the chapel or to local shops.

“This is a hugely populated area and one which will become even busier in the months and years ahead with the re-opening of schools and the completion of the Strule Campus,” he added.

“These safety measures are absolutely essential and urgent and hopefully our discussions with the Department for Infrastructure will ensure that the concerns of local people are addressed soon.”