New £20k puffin crossing installed on Morganshill Road after protests over pedestrian safety

Dozens of angry parents and children gathered at the spot where one child was hit and another two just missed by a speeding car, in November last year.

And it seems their voice has been heard, as after a series of talks involving the local community, TransportNI, police and local politicians, a safer crossing has been delivered.

It is hoped that the new puffin crossing will make the road safer for pedestrians, particularly children, those with disabilities and the elderly.

The crossing will be controlled by a sensor which will only change back to green once everyone is across, while new, brighter traffic lights are more obvious to oncoming traffic.

A local councillor, who has been lobbying hard for the upgrade, said the community is happy, although he did admit that perhaps they were expecting much bigger changes at the site.

TransportNI, who upgraded the lights, said: “TransportNI has upgraded the pelican crossing at Morgans Hill Road Cookstown to a puffin crossing, representing an investment of approximately £20,000. Puffin crossings make crossing the road easier and safer.

“They have the red/green man signals on the same side of the road as a pedestrian waits to cross, this provides a facility to watch the signals and traffic at the same time (on other types of crossings red/green man signals are normally on the opposite side of the road).”