Roads Service reports on schemes in Ballymena area

Transport Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £3.6million for structural road maintenance in the Ballymena area this year.

Speaking ahead of this evening’s meeting between Roads Service and Ballymena 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 Northern Transport Corridor by the proposal to connect the M2 with the A26 at Ballymena. He said: The connection of the M2 Ballymena bypass underneath the Larne Road roundabout to the A26 Ballee Road East dual carriageway is now progressing well after a particularly inclement winter delayed earthworks. My Department expects the scheme open to traffic this summer.

Improvement schemes completed in the Ballymena area in 2009/10 include sight splay improvements at the junction of the A36 Moorfields Road and the C42 Speerstown Road and the provision of footways on the Woodside Road between the Omco Industrial Estate and the playing fields and on the Cullybackey Road between Inishowen Drive and the Old Cullybackey Road.

In total 18.4 kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced in the Ballymena area at a total cost of £1.85 million, the most significant being 1.5km of the A26 Crankill Road, 1.6km of the A42 Carnlough Road and 1.9km of the A43 Cushendall 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 1.8km of the A42 Carnlough Road, 1.6km of the A43 Cushendall Road and 1.8km of the B93 Hillmount 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 the Whitesides Road, Ballymena and traffic management measures on Bridge Street / North Road / Larne Road link junction will be delivered as resources permit.

Notes to editors:

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