More work scheduled for the Sligo Road, Enniskillen.
MOTORISTS have enjoyed a peaceful traffic jam free summer in Enniskillen but frustration for motorists is looming as the Sligo Road is getting resurfaced – just as the new school year restarts.
Two new resurfacing schemes totalling £410,000 are due to commence shortly on the A4 Sligo Road and whenever this vital thoroughfare is restricted in any way, gridlock often follows.
Last year, roadworks on the Sligo Road brought Enniskillen to a standstill with motorists claiming that they sat in traffic for up to an hour, and caused businesses to miss out on much needed trade.
A £230,000 scheme at Templenaffrin is programmed to commence on Monday August 20th and will resurface a 1.3km section of the road from the junction with Carrontreemall Road towards Belcoo. Work on this section is expected to be completed by Friday August 31st.
A scheme costing £180,000 in the vicinity of Glencunny Bridge will commence on Wednesday August 29th.
This will resurface a 1.1km section of the road from the junction at Crownhall Road towards Belcoo. It is planned, weather permitting, to have all the work completed by September 7th.
Local businessman Scott Robinson who owns Craigville Garden Centre on the Sligo Road has expressed his annoyance at the roadworks and the deadlock it may cause: “We have not been consulted about this, and we did not know that these works were going to happen – there was no collusion with local businesses. If we were Asda or Tesco, they would have been consulted but because we are the small man, they do not care.
“They could do this work at night – the road is not busy during the night and it would not be annoying anyone, so why not do it then. This effects business – and there is a small local businesses closing every month in the town and nothing is being done to help us.
“It is frustrating. People will not go out the road because of the traffic and there will be road closed signs up so people will not come out this direction and customers will go somewhere else,” said Mr Robinson.
A spokesman for the Department for Infrastructure announced the works saying, “While the Department has carefully planned these works and associated traffic management arrangements in order to minimise any inconvenience to the public, motorists should expect some delays and allow additional time when planning any journeys.”
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