A former Newry councillor has urged the Infrastructure Minister to personally examine chronic congestion at the Fiveways roundabout and Damolly Retail Park.

Roisin Mulgrew, the Aontú representative for Newry, said residents and commuters have repeatedly raised complaints about delays at the junction on the Armagh Road. She described the area as a key chokepoint that leaves motorists frustrated daily.

Ms Mulgrew argued that the proposed Newry Southern Relief Road, even if it proceeds, would not directly address the bottleneck at Fiveways or the Damolly exit. She called for a feasibility assessment into installing traffic lights near the retail park to improve traffic flow.

She also urged that an additional exit from Damolly Retail Park onto Carnbane Way be considered, to prevent vehicles backing up at the Armagh Road junction.

The former councillor said she had been in contact with many locals about the issue and was seeking an urgent meeting with Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who is also the MLA for Newry.

Ms Mulgrew stated that the minister needed to focus attention on Newry infrastructure matters, and that her party had a record of highlighting planning shortcomings in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.