Traffic lights for Oatfield junction

PLANS are in the pipeline to replace the existing Oatfield mini-roundabout at the Ramelton Road-De Valera Road junction with traffic lights, it has emerged.

What will be a revelation to many came to light this week in a written response to a question tabled by Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh who had called on the local council to provide a yellow box at the roundabout “at the old Aldi”.

He also asked if the council could address pedestrian safety for those crossing on the Oatfield site at the bottom or the De Valera Road, describing it as being “extremely dangerous”.

In an official reply, he was informed that the junction is in an area where there are plans for an Active Travel Scheme project which will lead to considerable road works and the provision of cycleways and new pathways.

This process is currently at the public consultation stage.

As part of the scheme, it is proposed to “replace the existing roundabout with a signalised junction” which will include “a pedestrian phase” which will make it safer for pedestrians to cross.

He was also told that in the interim, an assessment can be carried out to see if it is safe and appropriate to put a yellow box at the junction.

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