Roads Service to invest £3.4 m in Coleraine area

Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, announced that investment totalling £3.1million is planned for the Coleraine area this year.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Coleraine Borough Council, the Minister said: “A realignment of the bend on the A54 Agivey Road just south of Mullaghinch Road has recently started and should be completed by July 2007. It is also proposed to resurface in asphalt 900m of the existing carriageway in conjunction with the scheme.”

The Minister said other schemes which will be taken forward in the Coleraine Borough Council area include the extension of the safety barrier on the A29 Ring Road between Portrush Road Roundabout and Cromore Road; realignment of the ‘S’ bend on the U36 Ballymacrea Road near its junction with the Ballybogey Road; footway provision on the B70 Boleran Road and A54 Curragh Road; and substantial lengths of asphalt resurfacing on the B66 Craigmore Road and B207 Moneybrannon Road.

He welcomed the continued high level of investment in local transport and safety measures in the Coleraine Borough Council area, which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures, safer routes to schools and controlled pedestrian crossings.

Road Service’s Principal Engineer, Jim Campbell said: "Roads Service faces some very significant challenges over the next few years as it gears up to deliver a demanding programme of Strategic Road Improvements while planning to restructure in line with the outcome of the Review of Public Administration.

“The Strategic Road Improvement Programme envisages an investment of £1.4billion in the period up to 2015. Around £1billion of these schemes have already been identified and a consultation on a further £400million of schemes was completed at the end of 2006. In addition, the Republic of Ireland National Development Plan 2007-2013, contains proposals on the inter-urban routes linking the main population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the North West.

“It is also proposed that the Review of Public Administration will see responsibility for the maintenance and development of local roads, approximately 23,700km of the total 25,000km of public roads, transfer to the seven new Councils in May 2009.

“Despite these challenges, Roads Service will continue to concentrate on scheme delivery in Coleraine Borough Council area. To minimise the disruption that will arise from the works we will also be making every effort to give motorists advance warning of roadworks through signage and information prior to works. There will be updated information on our website and radio traffic reports. “

Mr Campbell also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes already completed in 2006/07. These included a traffic calming scheme on Killowen Street, Coleraine, vertical realignment and footway provision on the Ballywillan Road, Portrush, and Collision remedial measures introduced at Union Street Zebra Crossing, Coleraine.

Notes to Editors:

Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, 02890 40372.