New bus safety measures approved by DFI minister for busy South Derry road following talks
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced steps to improve safety for children using buses on the busy Hillhead Road, near Knockloughrim, as the new school term approaches.
Translink notified parents back in June that school buses returning from schools in Magherafelt would no longer stop off at the Rocktown Road and Broagh Road locations to leave children off in the interest of improving safety.
The Minister and Road Service and Translink officials visited the Hillhead Road site and met with parents, local landowner and public representatives to explore options which would allow these locations to be considered safe for buses to stop and lift or drop off schoolchildren.
Following the discussions on site Minister Kimmins gave approval for a number of road safety improvement measures on Hillhead Road and Broagh Road junctions.
A new hard stand bus stop will be created alongside the Hillhead Road. A short footpath will be created on the opposite side of the roadway to connect to the Rocktown Road junction,where it is planned that a new bus shelter will be installed by Mid Ulster District Council.
Coinciding with this work there are planned modifications to hedgerow and sightlines on Hillhead Road which it is hoped that will permit the safe stopping of buses at the Broagh Road junction and allow children to exit buses at this location.
DFI have also agreed to design a further medium-longer term footpath scheme between Rocktown and Broagh Road junctions for future delivery, though the time frame for this work will be dependent upon other competing project costs across the district.
Councillors Donal and Sean Mc Peake along with Mid-Ulster MLA Emma Sheerin said in a statement: “We are delighted to see much progress being made to improve the safety at these bus stop locations for school children and road users alike. We have been lobbying for these works to be carried out for several years and we wish to thank DFI Minister Kimmins, Johnny Graham and Daniel Healey DFI, Sean Falls and Peter Lennox Translink, Anne Mac Airt Mid-Ulster District Council, the parents of local school children and the local landowner all for their continued co-operation into what is hoped will result in much improved safety measures at these busy bus stop locations”