It will be necessary to close the A26 Frosses Road to motorists from Monday 23 July to Saturday 28 July between 9.15am to 8.00pm from Station Road, Glarryford to Lisnasoo Road.
The purpose of the closure is to facilitate the felling of a number of the remaining Scots Pines trees at the Frosses and to undertake essential road maintenance work along this stretch of carriageway.
Many of the original trees at the Frosses are now nearing the end of their life-span and over recent years pruning and felling has been necessary to protect the safety of the travelling public from the hazard of falling trees during winter storms along this busy section of trunk road. A recent tree survey has indicated that a further 26 trees now need to be removed as they are deemed to be no longer sustainable at this location. It will also be necessary to remove the hanging branches of the remaining trees and any dead wood that has been produced.
In the past with the assistance of the Conservation Volunteers for NI and expert tree advisers from the Parks and Amenity Section of Belfast City Council Roads Service has attempted to preserve this native tree species by collecting seeds from the pine cones and re-planting the seedlings on site. There is evidence on site that a number of these seedlings have successfully rooted and have developed into semi-mature trees.
During these essential maintenance works nothhbound traffic will be diverted via the B64 Station Road, B93 Dunminning Road and the B93 Killagan Road. Diversions for southbound traffic will be via the C61 Lisnasoo Road, B94 Ballycregagh Road and the B64 Springmount Road. All diversions will be signed.
Roads Service apologise for any inconvenience caused to road users and seek their co-operation and patience to enable this essential work to be carried out quickly and safely.
