Works to finally take place at crash hotspot

LOCAL politicians have welcomed departmental confirmation that significant works will at last take place to alleviate traffic chaos at a local junction.

The junction of Bellspark Road, Prospect Road and Orchard Road is regarded as one of the locality’s accident blackspots, after the area witnessed a slew of collisions in recent years. Just last month there were two road traffic collisions in one weekend.

However this week, the Department for Infrastructure has confirmed to local public representatives that remedial works are imminent, namely the removal of the Prospect Bar, which sits on the junction.

“At a council committee, I received an update from DFI regarding local issues which are very important to local residents,” the SDLP’s Steven Edwards explained.

“As regards the Orchard Road/ Bellspark Road junction, work is underway to advance phase one of the scheme which is the removal of the Prospect Bar. This will be done this financial year and DFI have made a firm commitment that this work is advancing.”

It is believed that the vesting and removal of the local bar will greatly improve road safety at the junction.

Cllr Edwards continued, “It’s vitally important that DFI and LPS (Land and Property Services) work with the owners of the bar and provide them with some certainty. After all, they’ve been waiting years in complete uncertainty.”

Also commenting, Sinn Féin MLA, Maolíosa McHugh, who has been heavily involved in campaigning for improvements to be made to the junction, said he is relieved to finally see progress being made.

“I am glad to say that it has been confirmed that the DFI will be progressing to phase one of a scheme which will hopefully help to alleviate some of the issues at this treacherous junction.

“It is hoped that this will be done in this financial year,” he added.