Roads Service to Invest £4.7Million in Banbridge Area

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy announced a £4.7million investment for the Banbridge area this year.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Banbridge District Council, the Minister said: “ Works are continuing on the A1 junctions which include Banbridge Road, Dromore; Dromore Road, Banbridge and Dublin Road, Loughbrickland. These schemes are being progressed as part of Package 2 of Roads Service’s Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) programme. Construction work on all these sites commenced in March 2008 and has continued throughout the year with construction of bridges, underpasses and associated earthworks.”

Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Banbridge 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 Strategic Road Improvement Manager Leslie McCullough welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Banbridge District Council area, which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures and safer routes to schools.

Other schemes, which will be taken forward in the Banbridge District Council area this year, include the A50 Castlewellan Road at Corbet Bridge which will improve forward visibility. In addition, two other minor works schemes are being progressed at Old Newry Road / Ringsend Road, Banbridge and the B10, Rathfriland Road at Lisaree Road which will see improved visibility measures introduced. Progress on these schemes will be subject to land negotiations with landowners.

In addition to the schemes that will be delivered in 2009/10, Mr McCullough drew attention to the development work that was being undertaken on Strategic Road Improvement schemes in Southern Division and in particular the A1 Junctions – Phase 2. It is proposed to provide four additional flyover type junctions on the A1 dual carriageway with the provision of a continuous central safety barrier, closing up all gaps between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland.

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 McCullough highlighted some of the schemes already completed in 2008/09. These included improved sightlines on the following Roads Ballyroney Road, Katesbridge Millvale Road at the Rathfriland Road Junction, Drumsallagh Road close to the A1, Iveagh Road and Shot Lane.

Notes to Editors:

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