New puffin crossings for Cookstown and Magherafelt

Puffin crossings will be installed at Rainey Street, Magherafelt, and at Church Street, Cookstown.

The Minister said the crossings, which will be completed within the next two to three weeks, will improve road safety for pedestrians, particularly vulnerable road users such as school children, the elderly and disabled people.

Danny Kennedy said DRD Roads Service received a number of requests for controlled crossings on these stretches of road.

“The decision to provide puffin crossings is based upon criteria relating to the number of pedestrians crossing the road and the volume of vehicles using it. This is to ensure that a crossing located where there is the greatest demand,” he said.

He said the main consideration in the location for these crossings was the analysis of traffic and pedestrian surveys and discussions with residents, business owners and elected representatives.

Puffin stands for Pedestrian User Friendly Intelligent Crossing. The major differences between puffin and pelicans are that puffins have the red/green man on the push button unit beside the pedestrian; there is no flashing amber signal to drivers – they are held on a red signal until pedestrians have completed their crossing and the time for pedestrians to cross the road can be extended by sensors which detect people still on the crossing.