Cllr Sharon Haughey said, “Although the improvements along the Newry Road at Edenaveys are benefiting traffic heading from Armagh to Newry, local residents have identified a number of problems with the scheme which need immediate resolution.
“The road improvements have done away with a footpath which previously ran alongside the road. This has caused much anxiety for local residents who are keen walkers and have been used to walking the loop for years now. The lack of footpath on the busy Newry Road now makes walking the loop exceptional dangerous.
“When I was out on site with residents I could see that it’s only a short distance of footpath which has been omitted. This is very unusual as the appears to stop and for about 300m-500m there is no footpath which breaks the walking loop from two minor roads off the Newry Road.
“There is room for the footpath and indeed residents have informed me that the original footpath has just been covered over with soil and grass. I have therefore written to Road Service to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss this matter out on site. I believe this issue can be resolved quickly and easily and will ensure that everyone will benefit from the new road improvements including local residents.
“There were a number of other issues raised by residents including concerns about the lack of hard shoulder and dangerous driving and overtaking by drivers in the single lane. There is no doubt that the omission of a hard shoulder along this new stretch is worrying and I have also raised this with Road Service. I have also alerted local police to concerns about dangerous driving so that police can monitor this and enforce road safety at this location.”