Replacing Mayo roundabout would improve pedestrian safety

MIXED views are emerging about a proposal to replace the roundabout at Cathal Duffy's in Castlebar with a traffic lights controlled junction.

There's no date yet for when proposed changes at the location will go on public display but it is likely to be advertised in the next month.

Local Councillor Michael Kilcoyne has voiced his support for concerns raised by the McHale Road Residents Association about the move.

But another Independent councillor, Harry Barrett, has said that if it made it safer for children walking or cycling, it would have his support.

He is receiving a lot of calls from people who want children to be able to walk and cycle safely to school, he said.

The matter got a brief airing at the monthly Castlebar Municipal District meeting where Councillor Kilcoyne queried when it will go on public display, and Councillor Cyril Burke wondered about tweaking the lights at John Hanley's at home time to let traffic flow out of town easier.

Director of services David Mellett said, in general, roundabouts are probably the most difficult pieces of road infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate.

Under active travel, if a roundabout is retained it's tightened up so the crossing is shorter for the pedestrian and they usually come with crossings as well.

The members had rightly asked what the impact of that would be on traffic, so it was taken away and modelled, with the impact found to be more than the design team had originally anticipated.

The next step, given the volume of traffic, is a controlled traffic light junction. They would be linked with the lights at Hanley's, working together.

It has a lesser impact on traffic than a roundabout that suppports pedestrian traffic.

Mr. Mellett reiterated for Councillor Barrett that it would be safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

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