Members of a combined residents association representing Cornamagh, Lissywollen, Cornamaddy, Garrynafela, and Williamstown have commissioned a computer-aided design of a cycleway bridge for the Ballymahon Road.
The bridge is a proposed alternative to Westmeath County Council’s decision to install a Toucan crossing at the location to facilitate the cycleway.
“Our stance is that we can have the Ballymahon Road and we can have the cycleway but separate one from the other and in the best interests of both,” a statement released late last week by the association read.
The association says the bridge will come with two major advantages over an intersection on the road: safety for all on the cycleway with no disruption to the traffic flows below.
“We do not want to see vulnerable young children on scooters and tricycles passing in front of cars, vans, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. By the same token, we, as motorists, do not want to be put at risk as well in that situation. It will take only one incident at the White Gates for accusations to fly,” it adds.
The association add that the existence of a Pelican crossing just 15 metres from the amenity raises more complications.
“When a pedestrian presents at the crossing the traffic on the road is obliged to yield. With traffic lights at the intersection the yellow beacons would have to be removed reversing the situation for the pedestrians. They would then have to yield to the traffic. With the over bridge in place, the flashing yellow beacons could be retained maintaining priority for the pedestrians,” they say.
Finally, the group say further complications will arrive if the proposed one-way system for Church Street is implemented, as all eastbound traffic coming over the town bridge will be routed down Northgate Street to arrive at the Crescent Junction.
In view of all this, the association is again calling on the council to substitute its proposal for a Toucan crossing in favour of this alternative bridge proposal.
