A turning right-lane into Brookeborough village off the Belfast Road is amongst a number of schemes which will be progressed by Roads Service in the coming year.
Details of the schemes were explained to members of Fermanagh District Council recently by Roads Service representatives, Richard Hamilton, Principal Officer; Harry Gallagher, Forward Planning Engineer; and Henry Robinson, Section Engineer.
The three representatives went on to explain the Draft Local Transport and Safety Measures Programme 2009-2011. Among the plans is a change of priorities at the Maguiresbridge/Brookeborough Road junction on the Main Street in Maguiresbridge. This scheme involves realignment of an existing road junction at the Lisnaskea end of Maguiresbridge Main Street.
Councillors were informed the reason for the proposed change of traffic priority is to facilitate the uninterrupted flow of traffic (especially HGV's) to and from the A4 Belfast Road by an alternative route to the Main Street.
This scheme is currently being designed and the land acquisition process has started. This should allow the scheme to commence this year. A right-turn lane into Maguiresbridge will also be provided.
Mr Gallagher explained to the Council that there would be changes to the Nutfield Road junction. However, he reassured the members that this should not result in making it any more difficult to exit this junction than it was currently.
Responding to a question, Mr Hamilton said that legislation alone would not deter lorries from going through Maguiresbridge, but that realignment should make it an easier option and would be more likely to be self-enforcing.
A turning right land on the Belfast Road (A4) is also proposed to allow access into Brookeborough village. Mr Gallagher explained traffic counts were carried out at the three roads into Brookeborough off the Belfast Road. Based on this, he proposed to provide a right turn lane at the junction closest to Enniskillen.
A Councillor expressed concern that this junction was the most used because of reduced speed and ease of access, but was not the shortest route into the village. Mr Gallagher indicated these views would be taken into consideration.
