Roads Service to Invest £2.3Million in North Down Borough

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has announced a £2.3million investment for the North Down Borough Council area this year.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and North Down Borough Council, the Minister said: "Schemes planned for the current financial year include a range of measures that focus on improving road safety including the further roll out of the Safer Routes to School programme. The latest phase includes provision at St Columbanus College plus primary schools at Bangor Central, Ballymagee and Rathmore. In addition, the local cycle network is being extended through additional cycle lane provision along the Newtownards Road and Belfast Road."

Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the North Down Borough Council 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 Deputy Divisional Roads Manager, Kevin Monaghan welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in North Down Borough which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures and safer routes to schools.

Other schemes which will be taken forward in North Down Borough this year include traffic signal modifications to facilitate a fully controlled right turn at the Balloo Road/ Bloomfield Road South junction and traffic calming schemes at Bryansburn Road, Brunswick Road, Groomsport Road and Seahill Road, Holywood.

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 governement in 2011 and the arrangements to allow the new councils to influence roads programmes.

Mr Monaghan highlighted some of the schemes already completed in 2008/2009. These included roundabout provision at Six Road Ends, resurfacing, new kerbing and road drainage at Gransha Road and the erection of 190m of new safety barrier at Ballysallagh Road.

Notes to Editors:

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