5,000 vehicles use Derry accident blackspot in an hour

Over 5,000 vehicles access a notorious Derry accident blackspot during the morning rush hour, it has emerged.

The figure was revealed by the Roads Minister Danny Kennedy in a letter to a Derry councillor.

The Waterside SDLP councillor Martin Reilly had asked the Department for Regional Development (DRD) for an update on what progress was being made on a much needed safety upgrade.

In the letter, the Minister revealed that 5,100 vehicles which use the roundabout during the morning peak hour, 122 of which come out of Waterfoot Park.

It adds that a recent traffic survey also showed that motorists coming out of Waterfoot Park also have to wait the longest time to join traffic on the roundabout, with the longest waiting time recorded being four minutes.

The Minister also stated that there are no plans to carry out any improvements on the roundabout, and he is ‘satisfied’ that it can cope with the ‘large volume of daily traffic’.

Cllr Reilly said he was disappointed at the response, given that there had been more than 50 casualties at the roundabout in the last three years.

Cllr Reilly said: “I am disappointed that the Minister has not been able to progress the necessary upgrade of this roundabout with the urgency that I and others feel it merits.

“While I understand that other planning applications will impact on the usage of this key strategic road for the city and wider north west, I feel that action is required now as this roundabout is already experiencing a high number of accidents.

He added: “I would therefore call on the Minister to meet with local residents to hear their frustrations and re-prioritise this work within his department.”