Roads service to invest over £4million in Down

Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, announced investment totalling £4million is planned for the Down area this year.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Down District Council, the Minister said: “Roads Service is progressing with the environmental impact assessment and detailed traffic surveys for the A24 Ballynahinch Bypass. Work on the overtaking opportunities schemes on the A7 at Glassdrumman north of Saintfield and at the Old Saintfield Road north of Crossgar is continuing well.”

Road Service’s Divisional Roads Manager (Acting), Robert Ellison, welcomed the continued high level of investment in the Down District Council area and identified a number of other schemes which will be taken forward in the area in the 2007/2008 financial year. Subject to land agreements these include Shore Road, Strangford; Magheraloan Road, Annacloy; Crawfordstown Road, Drumaness; Vianstown Road/Bonecastle Road, Downpatrick and at Commons Road, Ballykinlar.

Mr Ellison added: "Roads Service faces some very significant challenges over the next few years as it gears up to deliver a demanding programme of Strategic Road Improvements.

“The Strategic Road Improvement Programme envisages an investment of £1.4billion in the period up to 2015. Around £1billion of these schemes have already been identified and a consultation on a further £400million of schemes was completed at the end of 2006. In addition, the National Development Plan 2007-2013, contains proposals on the inter-urban routes linking the main population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the north west.

“It is also proposed that the Review of Public Administration will see responsibility for the maintenance and development of local roads, approximately 23,700km of the total 25,000km of public roads, transfer to the seven new councils in May 2009. It is however noted that the Assembly has decided to review this decision.

“Despite these challenges, Roads Service will continue to concentrate on scheme delivery in the Down District Council area. To minimise the disruption that will arise from our works we will also be making every effort to give motorists advance warning of roadworks through signage and information prior to works. There will be updated information on our website and radio traffic reports.’’

Mr Ellison also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes taken forward in 2006/07. These included visibility and alignment improvements at Annacloy Road, Downpatrick and Dublin Road/ Burrenreagh Road, Castlewellan. A right turning lane was provided at Belfast Road/Finnebrougue Road, Downpatrick and a footway link was completed at Station Road, Killough.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Media queries to: Michaela Smyth, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 028 9054 0887.