BY AUSTIN LYNCH
Road works are, once again, ongoing at the new Trory roundabout on the main Enniskillen to Irvinestown road.
Over the past few months since the roundabout was opened, it has been quite obvious that work at the roundabout was not quite complete and, in recent weeks, workmen have reappeared on site.
Commenting on the current situation at the busy junction, Henry Robinson, from the Roads Service in Enniskillen explained that because of the ongoing ground settlement at the site, the contractors were reluctant to put the final kerbs around the roundabout until they were sure all settlement had taken place.
"The time has now come to finalise the works and, over the coming 2 -3 weeks, the kerbing will be put in place to clearly define the perimeter of the roundabout," Mr Robinson stated.
Asked about what remains of the old road which, when travelling from Irvinestown towards Enniskillen, lies to the left of the newly created roundabout.
Mr Robinson said that, in the future, it is envisaged that there will be an extra lane between the Trory junction and the entrance to the new Acute Hospital and that this roadway could be reinstated as a freeflow lane for Irvinestown to Enniskillen through traffic.
"When this work is completed, the red and white bollards can be removed and the final product will emerge."
Mr Robinson also explained that the ground underneath where this roundabout has been built is 'very poor', and that the drainage, and settlement works had taken a lot longer than expected.
Turning to the roadworks at the site entrance to the new hospital, he said there would eventually be a new roundabout created there, and that the semi-circle of road that was created, and that motorists had to use for a brief period last year, was to allow new permanent electricity supply to be laid.
It was announced, recently, that the contractor for the works at Henry Street in Enniskillen had been awarded and, according to the Roads Service, they intend that work here, will create an extra lane,. This will commence in March. Hopefully, it will be completed before the end of the year.
"A lot of work has to be carried out here", Mr Robinson added, " and it will be a challenge to get sufficient progress while attempting to minimise the impact on the motorist."
