Roads Service to Invest £6.8million in Belfast Area

Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy announced a £6.8million investment for the Belfast City Council area this year.

Speaking ahead of today's meeting between Roads Service and Belfast City Council, the Minister said: “Schemes planned for the current financial year include completion of major improvements on the M2, widening of the A12 Westlink to provide a 70m long dedicated left turn lane into York Street and traffic signal modifications to provide a fully controlled right turn at Albertbridge Road/Castlereagh Street and Mountpottinger Road.

“The major improvement works on the M2 which, included the replacement of three bridges, has provided three traffic lanes in each direction between the Sandyknowes and Greencastle junctions.”

Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Belfast 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 Belfast city area. This includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures and safer routes to schools.

Schemes which will be taken forward in the Belfast City area this year include further extension of the Safer Routes to Schools programme which will benefit primary schools at Ballysillan and Cliftonville plus Campbell College; channelisation plus island provision at Grand Parade and Antrim Road at Belfast Zoo; pelican crossing provision at the Gransha shops on the Glen Road, Dunkeld Gardens at Oldpark Road and near the King's Hall on the Upper Lisburn 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. As one of the most heavily used carriageways in the greater Belfast area the A2 Sydenham Bypass is a vital part of the strategic highway network. In recognition of this, an initial assessment has been completed on the upgrading a 2.5km stretch from a dual two lane carriageway to a dual three lane. At the same time, Roads Service has been liasing with Planning Service to achieve successful integration of this proposal with plans for a new junction associated with development of Titanic Quarter. Following further consultation with key stakeholders, including Belfast City Council and the East Belfast Partnership, it is anticipated that a preferred options report will be finalised by the Autumn.

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 city bound and suburb bound bus lane provision between Carlisle Circus and Chichester Park; structural reinforcement, safety barrier enhancement and pedestrian access improvements at Finaghy Road North railway bridge and, some six months ahead of schedule completion of the M1/Westlink improvement project.

Notes to Editors:

1. Media queries to: Anne Burke, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 02890 540007. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.