Facelift will improve safety at busy Ballinasloe junction

One of the busiest and most hazardous junctions in Ballinasloe is set for a major facelift.

It follows a traffic safety audit at Creagh Junction on the Dublin Road out of the town, which recommended that works be carried out to facilitate the traffic at this junction.

Senior Engineer with Galway County Council, Rachel Lowe, informed local area councillors that the local authority was considering a number of options and would report on the matter at an upcoming meeting.

The junction is close to Creagh National School, the local cemetery, a nursing home and business park – and there is a major build-up of traffic at the junction each morning and evening.

Cllr Dermot Connolly (SF), who had requested the road safety audit, expressed his satisfaction that works would be carried out to both relieve the traffic congestion and make the junction safer.

The junction carries heavy traffic from the Taughmaconnell direction to the rather restricted junction on the old main Dublin Road. There is major congestion each morning and evening.

Motorists coming from this direction with the intention of going into Ballinasloe town have to make a right hand turn onto two lanes which is posing extremely difficult.

“There were lights at this junction in the past and I understand that they never worked satisfactorily so it will be interesting to see what the engineers come up with,” he said.

“It is a junction that requires a solution to ease the back-up of traffic which is causing major problems at peak times every day. But it is good that the Council are addressing the situation,” added Cllr Dermot Connolly.

Cllr Michael Connolly (FF) described it as “a crazy junction” and was “an accident waiting to happen”.

The Moylough councillor said that it was taking a long time for the problems at this junction to be addressed but was happy that it was finally a priority.

“It is a nightmare junction and particularly when it comes to funerals taking place in the local cemetery, those going to work in the business park as well as the school traffic.

“I sat there for half an hour one morning observing the traffic congestion and it would make the hair stand on your neck.

“There were those trying to access the main road and were taking chances out of frustration. I am shocked that there haven’t been more accidents at the location,” Cllr Connolly said.