Lower Stream Street Residents Call For Road Improvements

Traffic crossing the roundabout at the present moment is giving the residents a cause to fear that an accident may occur given the complex area of the road. [caption id="attachment_30187" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="On the Racecourse Road looking over the traffic issues were Sinn Féin Cllr Liam Johnston with Steam Street Residents' Association chairman Peter Smyth, SF worker John Gordon, Cllr Eamonn Mac Con Midhe, and Michael McKinney, Residents' Association."][/caption] Peter Smyth, Chairman of the Stream Street Residents Association, added, “It is especially important for the residents that  dropped kerbs are reinstated to all the road crossing areas. They were there before but with road changes when the cinema was build this was not done on the completion of the roadworks. Also, the residents of Ardpatrick Avenue would like improved sight lines for exiting the estate as the current arrangement is dangerous and unacceptable.” Down Council Sinn Féin Councillor Eamonn Mac Con Midhe said, “We need to make these pathways safe and accessible for prams as well as wheelchairs. At the moment it is very difficult for mothers trying to get to school in the morning who are pushing prams. But the new road system at Stream Street past the new cinema has been a major improvement to Downpatrick diverting traffic away from a congested junction at Collin’s Corner. The issues on this part of Downpatrick’s road system are important for the safety of local residents. “We will be having an ongoing meeting with residents over traffic issues and will be going door-to-door to make sure that people’s views are properly heard. The difficult traffic situation in Edward Street will be helped with it going one-way and St Dillon’s Avenue changing the direction of its one-way system. It is still early days and much work needs to be done with Roads Service to get our road system working more effectively. “But the situation at the roundabout in lower Stream Street is simple. Traffic needs to be entering it at an appropriate speed, pedestrians need to be safe, and the police need to be proactive in identifying anyone who flouts these new traffic measures before a serious accident happens,” added Cllr Mac Con Midhe. “Discussions with Roads Service will continue.” [caption id="attachment_30188" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Steam Street Residents Association members Michael McKinney and Peter Smyth, chairman, with Cllr Liam Johnston look over the issue of the drop kerbs at the Racecourse Road traffic area."][/caption] Edward Street Resurfacing Roads Service has written to residents in Edward Street indicating that it is their intention to carry out resurfacing work on the street from the Ardglass Road junction to the junction with Fountain Street. The work is expected to start on Monday 3rd October with the contractor upgrading the drainage and refurbishing kerbing and footways followed by the carriageway resurfacing by the end of October. A temporary one way system will operate from Monday 10th October until Saturday 12th November from John Street junction to St Dillon’s Avenue. The St Dillon’s Avenue one -way current traffic flow will be reversed. Efforts will be made for residents to gain access to their properties.]]>