Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Newtownabbey Borough Council, the Minister said: “Among the major schemes that will be taken forward this year is the widening of the M2 between Sandyknowes and Greencastle where work to replace the Hightown Road Bridge is already underway. Widening work is due to start during the summer.
“Other schemes which will be taken forward in the Newtownabbey Borough include provision of a four metre wide segregated footway/cycle track between the railway halt and special school in Jordanstown; provision of a right turn pocket into Loughshore Park from the A2 Shore Road at Jordanstown Road and introduction of traffic calming measures at Lisbane Drive, Bracken Drive and Hazelburn Road."
At the meeting Road Service’s Deputy Divisional Roads Manager, Kevin Monaghan welcomed the continued high level of investment in local transport and safety measures in the Newtownabbey Borough which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures, safe routes to schools and controlled pedestrian crossings.
Mr Monaghan added: "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 £1.4bn in the period up to 2015. Around £1bn of these schemes have already been identified and a consultation on a further £400m 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 the Newtownabbey Borough Council area. To minimise the disruption that will arise from our 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,’’ said Mr Monaghan.
He also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes already completed in 2006/07. These included a new roundabout and a differential acceleration lane at Templepatrick Road Station Road / Longshot and localised widening, improved pedestrian facilities and enhanced turn pocket provision on the Old Carrick Road at the Monkstown Road junction. Sightline improvements have been completed from the Castletown Road onto Carrickfergus Road towards Ballynure and a similar scheme is nearing completion at the intersections of Reahill Road and Ballyearl Road with Carntall Road. In addition to these works the road safety message continues to be emphasised. This has been realised through extension of the "Village Gateway" type treatment to the villages of Ballyeaston and Burnside.
Notes to Editors:
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