Action on accident blackspot

Action on accident blackspot

30 August 2023

WORK to improve road safety at a notorious accident blackspot outside Downpatrick is due to be completed before Christmas, it has been confirmed.

The Department of Infrastructure has responded to local concern following a series of incidents at the Bonecastle Road where a number of vehicles have crashed into the boundary wall of a family home.

Over the past year, there have been 14 accidents at a sweeping bend close to the Dagens home, sparking calls for major improvements.

This week, the government department which has already erected new signs, has confirmed that a special road surface — designed to stop vehicles going out of control — will be laid at the bend where countless drivers have lost control.

The planned upgrade is at the design stage and it’s hoped the new surface will be laid before the end of December.

News of the upgrade comes after confirmation that CCTV footage of the various accidents has been viewed a staggering 1.5 million times on line.

Earlier this month, distraught grandmother Maria Dagens warned that “someone was going to be killed” if drivers using the Bonecastle Road didn’t slow down.

Her comments came after a three crashes in as many weeks, the most recent completely demolishing her garden wall, which has already been rebuilt on several occasions.

Mrs Dagens said her grandchildren normally play in the front garden of her home and that when they are there, she and her husband are with them at all times.

She also revealed the couple have difficulty sleeping at night as they are literally waiting for the next car to crash into their property, explaining the force of some of the accidents propels parts of the smashed wall into the front of the house.

“We built the wall to protect our home but it has been damaged so many times by people driving too fast. If they don’t slow down, someone is going to be killed and I don’t want it to be my grandchildren,” she continued,

Mrs Dagens said a CCTV camera has been erected at the front of the house with the footage of the most recent accident shown to police.

“Cars travelling from the Ballydugan Road junction are literally flying along the Bonecastle Road and when they get to the bend near our home, drivers lose control and crash. This has to stop and people need to slow down or there will be a fatality,” the grandmother continued.

South Down MLAs Colin McGrath and Cathy Mason and Downpatrick councillor Oonagh Hanlon have welcomed the road safety improvements.

Mr McGrath said news of the so-called surface dressing scheme confirms that “common sense has prevailed” with roads officials responding to increasing concern about the number of crashes at the accident blackspot.

“Video footage of the conditions at the Bonecastle Road went viral and while previous attempts to have some remedial work undertaken at this location were unsuccessful, I am pleased that after renewed representations roads officials have agreed to further surfacing works to make the location safe,” he continued.

“While this is good news for drivers using the road it will come as a huge relief to the family living at the accident blackspot who have seen their boundary wall destroyed on numerous occasions and witnessed and dealt with the aftermath of numerous accidents over recent years.”

Mr McGrath said he hopes the planned improvements at a road which has experienced a significant increase in usage will make it as safe as it possibly can be.

He continued: “Roads officials have confirmed that the resurfacing works at the sweeping bend are at the design stage and it is hoped the work will be completed before Christmas.”

Mr McGrath said he has also been contacted by a number of road safety groups highlighting issues to those similar at the Bonecastle Road, asking for advice on how to address the problem.

Mrs Mason said roads officials have listened to concerns raised by elected representatives and l residents and provided additional measures including much-needed warning signage, alerting motorists to the dangerous bends. 

“Confirmation of resurfacing works due to be completed by Christmas will provide additional assurance to local drivers and residents,” she added.

Cllr Hanlon said it was “positive” to see further action at the Bonecastle Road.