Roads Service reports on schemes in Newry and Mourne area

Transport Minister Conor Murphy welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £3.7million for structural road maintenance in the Newry and Mourne District Council area this year.

Speaking ahead of this evening's meeting between Roads Service and Newry and Mourne District 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 on the A1 dualling scheme between Beechill and Cloghogue He said: “Construction is ahead of schedule and the contractor Lagan Ferrovial indicate that the new road may be available to traffic in summer 2010.

"Improvement schemes carried out in 2009/10 included the A37 Concession Road at Ward’s Corner, Culloville. This scheme, which is now complete, improved the forward visibility and the realignment of 365m of single carriageway including 240m of new carriageway construction. A similar scheme to improve junction visibility was completed on the B8 Castlewellan Road with the Kinghill Road, Hilltown.

"In total 57 kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced, the most significant schemes being the A28 Gosford Road and the A28 Armagh Road both of which were completed in May 2009."

Speaking at the meeting, Divisional Roads Manager, Bertie Ellison welcomed the continued investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter. He said: “A major trunk road resurfacing scheme to be carried out this year will be 1.5km of the A27 Tandragee Road, Newry."

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 traffic calming in Forkhill village as well as several traffic management schemes, will be delivered as resources permit.

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