Support for traffic lights trial at congested junction in Mayo county town

COUNCILLORS in Castlebar agree that traffic lights should be trialled at Gallows Hill to try and resolve traffic issues at the location.

Four roads meet at the junction, with a mix of one-way and two-way traffic, and it was recommended that consultants be asked to study options to alleviate the problems there, in conjunction with some other issues around town.

However, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne was against appointing consultants, 'costing a fortune', and the matter going on for years.

He suggested, during a debate at a municipal district meeting, that they try solutions like traffic lights in the short-term to see if they work.

With 150 new houses coming on stream in the area in the next year or two, they had to try something, agreed Councillor Ger Deere.

It's the biggest traffic crisis facing the town, with bedlam at the school at the moment, he said.

The lack of available space to do anything at the junction was pointed out by Councillor Al McDonnell, who felt lights were the only realistic solution.

Issues with zoning were adding to the problem, said Councillor Cyril Burke. They had looked at zoning land for housing on the Breaffy side of town, but instead most of the residential estates were on the Newport side, with no one thinking of how people are going to commute.

He hoped they can give more balance to the town in the future.

Members agreed that trialling traffic lights was worth a try.