The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has remained firm in their decision not to grit a treacherous stretch of road following an extremely close call yesterday (January 6) when a double-decker school bus skidded into the grass verge.
The Ulsterbus, driving along the Bannfoot Road, Derrytrasna, ended up in a very precarious and potentially life-threatening situation that prompted several former and current local Councillors to call for action.
While, thankfully all aboard escaped without injury on this occasion former SDLP Councillor for Craigavon, Declan McAlinden aired his concerns stating: “It’s a major safety concern and has been for a lifetime. I was really concerned that that was a double-decker bus this morning, the weight of that when it hit the verge, if it had gone into a ditch it could very easily have toppled over.
“If it had of toppled over we could have been dealing with numerous fatalities.”
Armagh I contacted the DfI to ask if they had any plans to add the road to their schedule given the severity of the situation.
However, their response will undoubtedly have many Councillors – and local residents – backs up moving forward.
In response to this publication’s enquiry, a DfI spokesperson explained the current strategy: “The Department delivers a winter service programme which endeavours to mitigate, as far as is reasonably possible, the effects of adverse winter weather.
“At times of ice and snow we deploy around 300 staff and a fleet of 130 gritters – working round the clock when needed – to salt around 7,000 kilometres of the main road network.
“Throughout the course of the weekend roads on the scheduled network have been salted a number of times. As part of the winter service, the Department salts the main through routes which carry more than 1,500 vehicles per day.
“In exceptional circumstances, roads with difficult topography carrying between 1,000 and 1,500 vehicles daily will also be salted. This means that 28% of the road network will be salted, directly benefiting around 80% of road users.”
However, in regards to adding Bannfoot Road to this schedule, they said: “We unfortunately do not have the resources to salt all rural roads, however the B2 road into and out of Derrytrasna is on the gritting schedule. Despite our best efforts it is important to remember that we cannot guarantee ice free roads even after salting.
“On public roads which do not meet the criteria for inclusion within the treated road network, salt bins or grit piles may be provided at difficult locations for use by the public on a self-help basis.
“During icy and wintry conditions, drivers are reminded to slow down and exercise caution when travelling, particularly when driving on untreated roads.”
