Minister approves bus safety measures on Hillhead Road, Knockloughrim

In June of this year, Translink had issued notification to parents that school buses returning from schools in Magherafelt would no longer stop off at the Rocktown Road and Broagh Road locations to leave children off, in the interest of ‘improving safety’.

Mid-Ulster District Sinn Féin Councillors Donal McPeake and Sean McPeake have been lobbying DfI and Translink on behalf of the large number of schoolchildren from the Rocktown Road and Broagh Road who use these locations to exit school buses.

DFI Minister Liz Kimmins and her Roads Service and Translink officials visited the Hillhead Road site locations on Tuesday and met with parents, local landowner and public representatives to explore options which would allow these locations to be deemed safe for buses to stop and lift or drop off schoolchildren there.

Following the discussions on site, Minister Kimmins gave approval for a number of road safety improvement measures on Hillhead Road at Rocktown Road and Broagh Road Junctions.

A new hard stand bus stop will be created alongside the Hillhead Road where currently one does not exist. A short footpath will be created on the opposite side of roadway to connect to the Rocktown Road junction where it is planned that a new bus shelter will be installed by Mid-Ulster District Council.

Coinciding with this work there are planned modifications to hedgerow and sightlines on Hillhead Road which it is hoped that will permit the safe stopping of buses at the Broagh Road junction and allow children to exit buses at this location.

DFI have also agreed to design a further medium-longer term footpath scheme between Rocktown and Broagh Road junctions for future delivery, though the time frame for this work will be dependent upon other competing project costs across the district.

Speaking to the County Derry Post, Councillors Donal and Sean McPeake and Mid-Ulster MLA Emma Sheerin said: “We are delighted to see much progress being made to improve the safety at these bus stop locations for schoolchildren and road users alike. We have been lobbying for these works to be carried out for several years and we wish to thank DfI Minister Kimmins, Johnny Graham and Daniel Healey DFI, Sean Falls and Peter Lennox Translink, Anne Mac Airt Mid-Ulster District Council, the parents of local school children and the local landowner all for their continued co-operation into what is hoped will result in much improved safety measures at these busy bus stop locations.”