Major strengthening works on A2 Bangor Ring Road

Work on a £125,000 resurfacing scheme at the Bloomfield Road Roundabout on the A2 Bangor Ring Road, Co Down will start next week.

The work, carried out by the Department for Regional Development’s (DRD) Roads Service, will begin on Monday 4 October 2010 and is scheduled for completion in seven weeks.

The scheme involves resurfacing the roundabout circulatory path and the approach and exit legs. Associated footway and drainage improvements will also be carried out.

The Roads Service Network Maintenance Manager, Colin Brown said: “This major trunk road intersection carries in excess of 35,000 vehicles per day and is adjacent to a busy shopping centre. Although disruption due to the works will unfortunately be unavoidable, Roads Service and the contractor Northstone (NI) Ltd, have carefully planned the works operations and temporary traffic management arrangements in order to minimiseinconvenience to those directly affected and the travelling public.”

The majority of the work will be carried out from Monday to Friday between 09:30hrs and 16:30hrs under lane closure arrangements, during which the capacity of the roundabout will be reduced to a single lane on the South Circular Road and around the circulatory path.

On Sunday 7 and 14 November 2010, the roundabout will be partially closed to facilitate final surfacing operations. On both these dates, the South Circular Road approach from the Gransha Road direction and the Bloomfield Road South approaches and exits at the roundabout, will be closed in the morning. Furthermore on these dates, the South Circular Road approach from the Newtownards Road direction and Bloomfield Road approaches and exits will be closed in the evening.

Advance information signing will be in place to inform motorists of alternative route details.

Notes to editors:

1. Media queries to: Press Office, Department for Regional Development, Tel 028 90 540372. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.