Eglinton traffic calming measures planned to tackle HGV 'shortcuts'

Eglinton main street being used as a 'shortcut' by heavy goods vehicles will soon be tackled by 'traffic calming measures' from the Department for Infrastructure.

The commitment was made to Sinn Féin Councillor Alex Duffy who raised the issue with the department after locals raised it with him.

Cllr Duffy said the issue of HGVs using Eglinton instead of the A2 road, has been causing difficulties for local residents and businesses.

“There are issues of speeding, traffic being blocked and damage being caused to a road which clearly can’t cope with this volume of heavy traffic,” he said.

“I have raised this issue with Department for Infrastructure (DFI) officials who have now confirmed they hope to install traffic calming measures, islands, and other installations to help slow speeding vehicles.

“The local Community Policing team has also confirmed that it will be increasing its presence in the area and that a number of speeding tickets have already been issued to industrial HGVs and other vehicles.

“I welcome that progress and hope that the traffic calming measures will be installed soon. I would also urge all drivers of industrial HGVs to be mindful of their speed and to follow traffic rules for the safety of all road users and, as a matter of courtesy to the village of Eglinton, please use the A2 road instead,” he added.

The HGV issue is an ongoing problem for the town. The DFI has repeatedly promised to address it but it still remains.

In 2020 the DFI promised to carry out a traffic report survey but it has yet to deliver. According to SDLP Cllr Declan Norris, the hold up on the survey is due to 'repeated delays' to the 'completion of the A6'.

Previous DFI Surveys carried out in 2013 and 2018 found that around 14 HGVs use the road every hour between 7am and 7pm as do roughly 5,000 vehicles each day.