There were plenty of frustrated motorists on Tuesday morning as work at Johnston Bridge caused gridlock along Enniskillen’s Irvinestown Road RMGFH62
IT WOULD SEEM that relentless public pressure on Transport NI (formerly Roads Service) on the Johnston Bridge roadworks debacle in Enniskillen has paid off.
Since work started at the end of June Fermanagh Herald reader have innundated the paper with complaints about traffic delays caused by the partial road closure – and there was consternation last week when it emerged that contractors were taking a ten-day holiday which would drag out the length of time that the scheme would take to comlete.
Now, in an apparent U-turn, Transport NI have said that they have reviewed the entire project and that the roadworks which had orginally been scheduled to last until October will be wound up in August.
In a statement issued to this paper, Transport NI said: “The work at Johnston Bridge South which had been planned to follow on from the work at the north bridge has now been deferred to allow a further review of the timing and management of the work.
“The effect of these changes will mean that the Cornagrade Road at Johnston Bridges will reopen to two way traffic by the 27 August or earlier if possible.”
Transport NI did say that essential work would eventually have to be carried out on Johnston Bridge South, but it is thought that the traffic chaos caused by the roadworks will force a rethink when the second phase of the work is carried out.
Transport NI came in for criticism for not consulting the business community and other interested parties that have paid a heavy price due to the disruption.
And in a second statement released to the Herald yesterday Transport NI has discounted the possibility of using a stop-go system to alleviate traffic congestion in the town.
A spokesman confirmed that this system “has been considered and will remain an option”, but said “the current one–way traffic management system is the best option given all the considerations, including health and safety to those working on site and the progression of emergency vehicles along Cornagrade Road.”
Since work started at the bridge at the end of June Fermanagh Herald readers have innundated the paper with complaints about traffic delays caused by the partial road closure and there was consternation last week when it emerged that contractors were taking a ten-day holiday which would drag out the length of time that the scheme would take to complete.
With the roadworks resuming on Monday after a 10-day break lengthy there were more lengthy traffic hold-ups, not just on the Irvinestown and Tempo roads but on the Dublin Road, Queen Elizabeth Road and Wellington Road.
Transport NI have said that adjustments have been made to traffic lights sequencing to help alleviate hold-ups on the Irvinestown Road but it would seem that this has had a serious knock-on effect causing disruption on other main roads in the county town.
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