Death sparks call for bypass start

Death sparks call for bypass start

17 April 2024

THE tragic death of a pensioner in Ballynahinch last week has sparked calls for a major review of town centre traffic management and the start of work on a £45m bypass.

Stormont Roads Minister John O’Dowd has been asked to visit the town, while an online petition calling for work to start on the shovel ready bypass linking the Newcastle and Belfast roads has secured 500 signatures.

The petition for the biggest ever roads project proposed for the district was launched within hours of Mr Giovanni Buggea tragically losing his life after being struck by a lorry.

Originally from Sicily, Mr Buggea, who was in his 70s and well known in Ballynahinch where he had lived for more three decades, was laid to rest on Monday.

In addition to the ministerial invite, town centre traffic management review call and launch of the online petition, calls have been made for measures to slow the speed of vehicles in Windmill Street.

And the potential for the return of two-way traffic in the town centre has also been suggested to local roads officials who are expected to examine the circumstances of last week’s accident which may have been captured on CCTV.

The invite to Mr O’Dowd has been extended by Rowallane councillor Terry Andrews, who said there was “increasing anger and concern” about another road death in Ballynahinch town centre.

Extending his sympathy to Mr Buggea’s family, he said there must be an urgent review of town centre traffic management and serious consideration given to abandoning the current one-way traffic system.

“There have been a series of town centre tragedies in Ballynahinch and now we have another one. This cannot be allowed to continue and the concerns of many, many people need to be addressed,” he said.

He also said it was vital work on the near two-mile bypass gets underway to make Ballynahinch town centre safer.

His comments have been echoed by fellow Rowallane councillor Jonny Jackson and former councillor Robert Burgess.

Cllr Jackson, who has been speaking with roads officials, said he was keen for a “belts and braces” approach to any town centre traffic management review.

He is also seeking a site meeting with senior roads officials and believes it has been some considerable time since there was a traffic management review in the market town.

“The bypass is ready to go and we need to be told exactly when we will see construction work start,” he said.

`”A huge volume of traffic, including heavy lorries, is being funnelled through narrow town centre streets which were never designed to cope with thousands of vehicles daily. Pedestrian safety is paramount and perhaps it is time for the return of two-way traffic in the town centre.”

Mr Burgess said that while “delays plague other major road schemes” across the province, the Ballynahinch bypass was ready to proceed and should be allowed to do so.

He added: “Sadly, there have been a number of town centre fatalities involving pedestrians. A bypass has been talked about for almost five decades. The plans have been drawn and the route has been protected. It must now be delivered.”

Calls for work to start on the bypass come after the roads minister confirmed that the controversial decision to delay the scheme was to be reviewed.

Last year, the Department for Infrastructure effectively mothballed the multi-million pound scheme due to budget restraints. It had been hoped the bypass would open this spring.

Major new roundabouts are proposed at the Belfast Road junction with the Saintfield Road and at the Newcastle Road junction with the Downpatrick Road.

A new bridge is to be constructed over the Moss Road, with a section of the by-pass passing under part of the Crossgar Road with a 90-metre bridge constructed to take traffic over Ballynahinch River.

Overtaking lanes stretching almost 900 metres are proposed at either end of the by-pass where the major new roundabouts are to be constructed, with the scheme also including a shared footpath and cycle lane.

It is estimated the by-pass will take in excess of 18 months to build, with roads officials insisting it will greatly benefit both strategic and local road users by reducing journey times and improving road safety. 

In addition, officials are confident that the scheme’s economic assessment demonstrates the by-pass would provide a good economic return.