Roads Service reports on schemes in Antrim area

Transport Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £3million for structural road maintenance in the Antrim area this year.

Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s meeting between Roads Service and Antrim Borough Council, the Minister said: "A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year. While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services.”

The Minister noted the ongoing work to improve the North Western Transport Corridor by the proposal to construct a dual carriageway between Randalstown and Castledawson. He said: “My Department published statements setting out its decision on the Inspector’s reports on the public inquiries held in November 2007 to examine the Environmental Statements, Direction Orders and Vesting Orders prepared for the proposed Randalstown to Toome and Toome to Castledawson Dualling Schemes. Public exhibitions to explain the revised junction proposals associated with the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson dual carriageway were held in December 2009 in both Castledawson and Toome. The meetings yielded a significant volume of constructive comment which Roads Service is now examining in detail before deciding on the way ahead. “

Improvement schemes completed in the Antrim area in 2009/10 include sight splay improvements at the junctions of the Craigstown Road / Ballylurgan Road and the Castle Road / Milltown Road and the provision of a footway on the northern side of Moneynick Road, Toome between Gloverstown Road and Drumderg Roundabout.

Roads Service staff also worked with staff from the Department for Social Development and Antrim Borough Council to provide Phase 1 of a £255,000 Environmental Improvement Scheme in Randalstown.

Schemes which commenced in 2009/10 financial year and are nearing completion include the provision of a footway on the C49 Barnish Road from Whelans Park, Randalstown out to the playing fields, a distance of just over 1.0km.

In total 21.4kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced in the Antrim area at a total cost of £1.66million, the most significant being 2.35km of the A57 Ballyrobin Road, 3.2km of the C19 Ballyhill Road and 1.2km of the B101 Dundrod Road.

Speaking at the meeting, Deidre Mackle, Principal Engineer, welcomed the continued investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter. She said: “A programme of resurfacing works includes 1.1km of the A26 Lisnevenagh Road, 1.4km of the B59 Doagh Road and 1.2km of the Greystone Road.” Roads Service also presented the Council with a programme for local transport and safety measures, which is currently being developed for the area. These projects, which include collision remedial measures on Nutt’s Corner Roundabout and traffic calming measures on Old Steeple Road, will be delivered as resources permit.

Notes to editors:

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