Roads Service to Invest £2.8Million in Ballymoney Area

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy announced a £2.8million investment for the Ballymoney area this year.

Speaking ahead of today's meeting between Roads Service and Ballymoney Borough Council, the Minister said: “It is proposed to realign the Kirk Road, east of Bellisle Road to improve the forward sight distance on Kirk Road and the visibility sight lines at the Bellisle / Kirk Road junction.

“It is also proposed to widen the existing narrow footway on the Ballinlea Road, between Stranocum village and Bushvalley Primary School to provide a 2.0m wide combined footway/cycleway.”

In addition to the schemes that will be delivered in 2009/10, the Minister welcomed the development work that was being undertaken on strategic road improvement schemes in Northern Division and in particular, the proposed A26 Frosses dualling between Glarryford Crossroads to Ballycastle Fork: “Roads Service is continuing to develop the design for this important road scheme in preparation for progressing the project through the necessary environmental, planning and land acquisition statutory procedures,” said the Minister.

Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Ballymoney area last year. He said this year's increased allocation for structural maintenance would allow a larger number of resurfacing schemes to proceed on local roads this financial year.

Road Service’s Principal Engineer, Malcolm Glover, welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Ballymoney area, which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures and safer routes to schools.

Roads Service has also been in consultation with local government representatives on matters arising from the Review of Public Administration. These included the details of functions to be transferred to local government in 2011 and the arrangements to allow the new councils to influence roads programmes.

Mr Glover also highlighted some of the schemes that were completed in 2008/09. He said these included the completion of the Ballymoney Bypass cycle route from Knock Road to Semicock Road at a cost of £80,000; the provision of right turning pockets at the junction of the Craig’s Road / Bann Road / Church Road / Lisnahunshin Road, Rasharkin at a cost of £40,000; and the introduction of a variable speed limit at Kilmoyle Primary School, Benvardin Road, Ballybogey, which now has a 20mph legally enforceable speed limit at those times of the day when pupils are going to or being collected from the school.

Notes to Editors:

Media queries to: Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 028 9054 0007.