10 November 2004
ALMOST £2.5 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON ROADS IN BALLYMENA AREA
Almost £2.5 million is being spent on structural road maintenance in the Ballymena area this year, Principal Engineer, Ms Deidre Mackle, revealed, when she presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to the local District Council.
Introducing the report, Ms Mackle said: "The level of investment in the Ballymena Council area is indicative of the continued high levels of investment across Northern Ireland, that once again sees Road Service committing some £70 million towards structural maintenance. It is worth noting that, the vast majority of this money, some 90% in fact, is being earmarked for work on non-trunk roads, which form the bulk of the road network in this area."
In the Ballymena Council area, Roads Service has earmarked just over £2.5 million for resurfacing works. Recently completed schemes include, asphalt resurfacing of 1.2 kilometres on the A26, at Ballee Road East, and 1.8 kilometres of the A42, Carnlough Road. Other significant resurfacing schemes have been completed at the B93, Bellaghy Road, the B96, Lisnahunshin Road, and at the B89, Craigstown Road.
Ms Mackle continued: "It is also worth pointing out that Roads Service has also secured significantly enhanced funding for local transport and safety measures and this means that in the Ballymena Council area, spending on this particular aspect of our work, which includes work on traffic calming, collision remedial and minor works, will increase this year.
"The increase in funding will facilitate the delivery of schemes such as, 270 metres of footway on the Parkgate Road, Connor, which is about to start, and junction visibility improvements on the Ballyconnelly Road, at Glenhugh Road and Garvaghy Road. A significant minor works scheme, to improve the right-turn facility and to ease the bend at the Largy Road / Ballynafie Road, Portglenone, will also start early in 2005.
"Traffic monitoring cameras have been installed at key junctions in Ballymena, and will be used to monitor traffic movements in the town. A number of improvements to the lifts at the Springwell Street multi-storey car park, are currently underway, to complement the environmental improvements recently completed at the Ballymoney Street access. Significant footway improvements have been completed at the Larne Road Link, improving road safety at the Old Larne Road junction. Work to provide a bus turning area and associated footway links is also about to start, between the Crebilly Road and the Old Crebilly Road."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Structural maintenance includes the upkeep of the foundations and surfaces of roads and footways. It includes activities such as resurfacing, surface dressing, patching and rural road drainage.
- Roads Service is spending £70 million on Structural Maintenance in 2004/05.
For media queries, contact Paddy Cullen or Ann Williamson at DRD Press Office on (028) 9054 0007.
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