Sand Road danger warning

Two ‘accident blackspots’ on Ballymena’s Sand Road need to be urgently addressed by Transport NI says DUP Assemblyman, Paul Frew.
The dangerous junction of Sand Road and Woodtown Road. Drivers travelling on Woodtown have to crane their necks to see what may be coming at them on Sand Road. Image: google earth.The dangerous junction of Sand Road and Woodtown Road. Drivers travelling on Woodtown have to crane their necks to see what may be coming at them on Sand Road. Image: google earth.
The dangerous junction of Sand Road and Woodtown Road. Drivers travelling on Woodtown have to crane their necks to see what may be coming at them on Sand Road. Image: google earth.

Having welcomed the announcement of a safety scheme for the infamous Woodtown Road junction, Mr. Frew said he had other serious concerns with roads in the immediate vicinity.

He was particularly concerned about the junction of Woodtown Road where it joins Sand Road - a neck-breakingly notorious section of road well known to local drivers.

Motorists driving from Cullybackey Road along Woodtown Road come to a very dangerous junction with Sand Road. The sun can blind people at that spot very easily. Even if the sun is not shining, it is a real task for people to twist around and see what it coming down the Sand Road towards them - often at far too high a speed.”

And he has also called for action at a bend on Sand Road as it sweeps into the village of Galgorm.

“This bend at the top of the hill is at a populated junction with many entrances to developments and single houses. Drivers travelling down into Galgorm tend to retain speed on it plus some even cut the corner and go over the white lines onto the other side of the road.

“This is very dangerous because of the junction into Woodcroft heights which means that cars driving up the hill could be turning right with the risk of a collision being high.

“Having received numerous complaints from residents who have witnessed near misses and some collisions I do think that TransportNI should be concentrating resources to improve how drivers negotiate this section of the road,” he said.