Hillsborough traffic lights plan set to get green light

Local people mounted their campaign after motorists started using the village as a 'rat run' to avoid the lengthy queues of traffic at the roundabout following the opening of the new flyover at the Dromore Road.

This week, in their Spring Report to Lisburn Council, the Roads Service revealed it was looking at ways to resolve the problem.

"We are currently examining the feasibility of providing traffic signals on the roundabout to reduce delays and increase capacity during peak periods," said the report.

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who had been involved in the campaign, said: "This is something that will be very warmly welcomed by the Hillsborough Village and District Community Association and by residents of Hillsborough because since the new onslip and flyover opened at the Dromore Road junction there has been a marked increase in vehicles, including heavy vehicles, driving through Hillsborough village to avoid lengthy queues at the roundabout each morning.

"This has led at times to congestion within the village, particularly in the mornings when parents are dropping their children off at Downshire Primary School.

"The village committee have very real concerns about road safety with vehicles using the village as a 'short cut' when the A1 was improved to provide a bypass for the village so this role reversal had to be addressed," he continued.

"Following a meeting we had with Roads Service and the Roads Minister Conor Murphy, they are now examining a potential scheme which would signalise the roundabout and lead to improved traffic flows at peak times. This should help to address the problem," he continued.

"There is no reason the signals shouldn't be part time so that at off peak times the roundabout would function normally and the lights will simply be there to control traffic flows on the dual carriageway at peak times," he concluded.

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