There has been a call for safety upgrades to be installed at a busy South Belfast junction following multiple collisions.
SDLP Botanic councillor Gary McKeown has called on the Department for Infrastructure to install safety improvements to the Ormeau Road junction with the Ormeau Embankment and Annadale Embankment following a number of collisions, with the most recent taking place over the weekend.
He has said that the junction is one of the busiest in the city for both cars, pedestrians and cyclists and that local residents are regularly raising concerns to him regarding its dangers.
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Councillor McKeown said: “The crossroads beside Ormeau Library is one of the busiest intersections in the city, with a main road between south and east Belfast along the embankment crossing the Ormeau Road, a key arterial route in and out of town.
“Add to this the fact that the junction is heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists, and you have a serious risk to people’s safety. At the weekend, we had yet another accident at the location.
“Residents are regularly in touch with me about this junction, in particular calling for a right-turn filter light for drivers and cyclists to enable them to proceed across safely from Annadale Embankment up the Ormeau Road.
“I have raised this a number of times with the Department for Infrastructure, but to date they have refused to install a filter light, despite the fact that other similar junctions such as on the Malone Road / Stranmillis Road and Grand Parade/ Castlereagh Road have them.
“As it currently stands, anyone turning right to go up the Ormeau Road has to sit in a virtual no-man’s land after the light has turned red, waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic before dashing across.
“The Department has argued that there is adequate time before there is a green light for the Ormeau Road traffic to proceed, which should provide drivers turning right with enough time to make the manoeuvre.
“I know people who actively avoid using this junction due to fear for their safety, which in turns pushes traffic into residential side streets, and it must be very confusing for anyone trying to turn right who is not familiar with the layout. This can’t be right.
“I have written to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) again to ask them to reconsider their position and undertake safety upgrades to enable drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to use this junction more safely.”
A departmental spokesperson said: “The Department has received correspondence from Cllr McKeown regarding this junction and will respond in due course.
“An investigation into this recent collision will be conducted by the PSNI who will share any relevant findings with the Department. Officials will work closely with the PSNI to assist with their enquiries and take forward any identified actions that are within the remit of DfI.”
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