Roads Service To Invest £1.6Million In Castlereagh

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has announced a £1.6million investment for the Castlereagh Borough Council area this year.

Speaking ahead of today's meeting between Roads Service and Castlereagh Borough Council, the Minister said: "Schemes planned for the current financial year include a range of traffic calming schemes at Glen road, Manse Road and Merok Crescent; additional roll out of cycle track provision between Forestside and Cairnshill, Brackenvale to Carryduff plus East Link Road and resurfacing schemes at Carrowreagh Park, Cotswold Avenue, Wanstead Avenue and Hillsborough Road, Carryduff."

Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Castlereagh 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 Divisional Roads Manager, Tom McCourt welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Castlereagh area. This includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures and cycling measures.

Schemes which will be taken forward in the Castlereagh Borough area this year include street lighting schemes at Belvoir Close, Craigleith Drive/Walk, Islay Gardens and Kinross Avenue and enhanced signage, sightline and street lighting modifications on the A23 at the junction of Church Road and Lisleen Road South with Monreagh Road.

In addition to the schemes that will be delivered in 2009/10, Mr McCourt drew attention to the development work that was being undertaken on strategic road improvement schemes in Eastern Division. This includes widening the A55 at Knock Road and related preparatory work undertaken includes preparation of environmental impact assessments, scheme design, traffic modelling plus evaluation of alternative proposals. This work will contribute to the production of an Environmental Statement, notice of intention to make a Direction Order and notice of intention to make a Vesting Order. It is anticipated that this will be published for public comment in 2009 and, subject to receipt of any objections, the Department may then decide to hold a public inquiry. Should this prove necessary, a decision on whether to proceed with the scheme will be made upon issue of the public inquiry inspectors report.

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 McCourt highlighted some of the schemes already completed in 2008/09. These included the culverting of a water course at Gransha Road, provision of 170m of new safety barrier to the rear of Orchard Mews along the Belvoir Road and further roll out of the safer routes to school programme at Dundonald High School.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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