Ballina traffic changes

Ballina traffic changes

Anna-Marie Flynn

DRIVING from the proverbial ‘A to B’ will never be the same again in Ballina – if a proposed new traffic system goes ahead.
Drivers will have to reacquaint themselves with the local streetscapes, which will see Pearse Street becoming one-way; a reversal of the circular route at the bridge points and directional changes to several existing one-way streets.
The ambitious plan will establish a town centre orbital route – linking the five main arteries of the Foxford Road, Killala Road, Crossmolina Road, Sligo Road and Bonniconlon Road – and a central cell in the town.
Town Engineer Michael O’Grady unveiled the proposed system at a meeting of Ballina Town Council last week.
“We have a semi-uncoordinated traffic regime in Ballina. The system is largely anti-clockwise so we are hoping to move it back to a more clockwise regime. Traffic is very heavy going through town with a constant flow going through the centre that has no reason to be there. The vast majority of cars flowing through are on ‘rat-runs’ – that means they do not stop, or have no business in the town centre, but are simply using the quickest routes to get to their destination and are clogging up the centre as a result,” he said.
The proposed plan will now see a one-way system in effect on the Upper Bridge in the direction of town and a one-way system towards Clare Street on the Lower Bridge leading to a round-about effect.
Under the suggestions, the main artery of Pearse Street will become one-way towards the central junction, while O’Rahilly Street traffic will move in the opposite direction to the existing route.
A new link road between Pearse Street and Market Square adjacent to the AIB Bank is also proposed to free up traffic congestion. 
Elected members heard that alterations are also likely on the Sligo Road where traffic lights will be eliminated on a trial basis in the coming weeks. “A one-way system between the Bunree Bridge and Behy Road might be the solution to the on-going problem. We plan to take out the lights at that junction. The overall plan involves moving the lights to the Bunree Bridge which we have now been allocated funding to improve,” said Senior Engineer Noel Burke. Michael O’Grady said that considering Bord Gáis works ‘the system would not be implemented in any significant way for the next few months’.

Major Street Revamp

PEARSE Street, Ballina’s main thoroughfare, is set to get a new image in a comprehensive rejuvenation project.
Plans were revealed last week at a meeting of the street’s traders.
The revamp will coincide with the one-way system that is proposed for Pearse Street, which, should it go ahead, will enable the considerable widening of both footpaths. Benches, floral features and trees will be incorporated into the design in a bid to make the town centre more vibrant.
One trader told The Mayo News: “The meeting gave us an opportunity to see what the Town Council have in store and big plans are in the pipeline. We have always been conscious of keeping the main street as neat as possible as regards shop fronts and signage so this will just build on the efforts of the business community.”
The full-scale plan is expected to be unveiled by the Town Council in the coming months.