This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78n97jglyzo
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Maghera: Drivers gobsmacked by 'massive' yellow box junction | Maghera: Drivers gobsmacked by 'massive' yellow box junction |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Maghera has been dubbed the "small town with the big yellow box" | Maghera has been dubbed the "small town with the big yellow box" |
| "Ridiculous", "silly" and 40m long - but is this the biggest yellow box junction in the UK, Ireland or even the world? | "Ridiculous", "silly" and 40m long - but is this the biggest yellow box junction in the UK, Ireland or even the world? |
| That is what gobsmacked people in a County Londonderry town have been asking after the new set of road markings appeared earlier this week. | That is what gobsmacked people in a County Londonderry town have been asking after the new set of road markings appeared earlier this week. |
| Maghera, with its population of fewer than 5,000 people, has been dubbed the "small town the big yellow box" over the markings that stretch along a busy junction frequently used by buses, lorries and cars. | Maghera, with its population of fewer than 5,000 people, has been dubbed the "small town the big yellow box" over the markings that stretch along a busy junction frequently used by buses, lorries and cars. |
| It is aims to improve traffic flow on the A29 Tobermore Road by keeping the junction clear - but locals are less clear on why it is just so big. | It is aims to improve traffic flow on the A29 Tobermore Road by keeping the junction clear - but locals are less clear on why it is just so big. |
| Melissa Caskey's office overlooks the box and said it was "ridiculous" | Melissa Caskey's office overlooks the box and said it was "ridiculous" |
| Melissa Caskey, who works in an office which overlooks the box, said she was shocked when she first saw it. | Melissa Caskey, who works in an office which overlooks the box, said she was shocked when she first saw it. |
| "It's massive. It's ridiculous. Everybody who comes into our office says – 'have you seen the size of that box out there?'" she said. | "It's massive. It's ridiculous. Everybody who comes into our office says – 'have you seen the size of that box out there?'" she said. |
| "It's really silly and very few people know how to use it. But I do think they had a good reason for it because that's a very busy junction." | "It's really silly and very few people know how to use it. But I do think they had a good reason for it because that's a very busy junction." |
| She said a smaller box would have been better. | She said a smaller box would have been better. |
| Bar owner Barney Regan said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction | Bar owner Barney Regan said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction |
| Some residents highlighted the need for safer driving and said they hoped the new box might help. | Some residents highlighted the need for safer driving and said they hoped the new box might help. |
| Barney Regan, who runs a bar nearby, said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction. | Barney Regan, who runs a bar nearby, said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction. |
| "The north coast has the Dark Hedges and the Giant's Causeway, we've got the largest box-junction in Ireland," he said. | "The north coast has the Dark Hedges and the Giant's Causeway, we've got the largest box-junction in Ireland," he said. |
| The box stretches more than 40m along a busy junction frequently used by buses and lorries | The box stretches more than 40m along a busy junction frequently used by buses and lorries |
| The Department for Infrastructure has been contacted for comment. | The Department for Infrastructure has been contacted for comment. |
| Situated in the town centre, the yellow box is close to local businesses including a cinema, but is also used by through traffic. | Situated in the town centre, the yellow box is close to local businesses including a cinema, but is also used by through traffic. |
| While there is criticism of the size of the traffic flow measure, there is a general recognition that traffic flow in the town needs to be improved. | While there is criticism of the size of the traffic flow measure, there is a general recognition that traffic flow in the town needs to be improved. |
| Ireland's biggest and most bizarre | Ireland's biggest and most bizarre |
| Many other towns and villages in Ireland claim to be home to abnormally large phenomena. | Many other towns and villages in Ireland claim to be home to abnormally large phenomena. |
| For many years the peninsula of Doagh in Donegal was said to be home to Ireland's largest searchlight as part of the Donegal Lapland festival each Christmas | For many years the peninsula of Doagh in Donegal was said to be home to Ireland's largest searchlight as part of the Donegal Lapland festival each Christmas |
| The village of Ross Cross in County Meath is said to be home of the island's largest 99 ice cream | The village of Ross Cross in County Meath is said to be home of the island's largest 99 ice cream |
| Donegall Quay in the centre of Belfast is the domain of what is reputedly the largest statue of a fish in Ireland | Donegall Quay in the centre of Belfast is the domain of what is reputedly the largest statue of a fish in Ireland |
| As pointed out by roads expert Wesley Johnston on X, Ballymena, County Antrim, is believed to have the island's largest roundabout - the Larne Road roundabout |