NTA urged to retain landmark Fingerpost Roundabout in Douglas 

CALLS have been made for the National Transport Authority (NTA) to reconsider its proposal to remove the landmark Fingerpost Roundabout in Douglas as part of the plans to develop 11 sustainable transport corridors (STCs) in the city. 

As part of the Maryborough Hill to City STC, the NTA has outlined plans to replace the Fingerpost Roundabout with a signalised junction. 

Sinn Féin local election candidate for the city’s South East ward, Michelle Cowhey Shahid, would like the proposal reconsidered.

Ms Cowhey Shahid described the roundabout as a “long-recognised landmark” for residents in Douglas and its environs and said, while she acknowledges the need to address traffic issues in the area, she believes the removal of the roundabout could “exacerbate traffic problems”.

In a recent response received by Labour candidate in the South East ward, Peter Horgan, the NTA sought to explain the rationale underpinning the proposal. 

“While roundabouts can work very well for general traffic movement, particularly where traffic flows are similar across the roundabout arms, they do not work well for pedestrian, cyclist or bus movements,” said NTA’s deputy chief executive Hugh Creegan.

“Roundabouts can be particularly hostile environments for people on foot seeking to cross the junction, and for cyclists trying to navigate their way safely through a roundabout. In addition, roundabouts do not facilitate effective bus priority,” he said. 

Overall, Mr Creegan said a signalised traffic junction is “much safer and better for vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) as well as enabling faster and more reliable movement for buses through bus priority measures”.

Mr Horgan said the explanation was welcome but said the NTA “must also take into account the historic and cultural history of the Fingerpost and its place in the history of the local area”.

“Options like a signalised roundabout rather than junction would be useful to explore that can give pedestrian and cyclist priority also.”