23 November 2004
OVER £2 MILLION TO IMPROVE ROADS IN THE ANTRIM AREA
Over £2.2 million is being spent on structural road maintenance in the Antrim area this year, Principal Engineer, Mr Graeme Brown, revealed, when he presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to the local District Council.
Introducing the report, Mr Brown said: "The level of investment in the Antrim Council area is indicative of the continued high levels of investment across Northern Ireland that, once again, sees Roads Service committing some £70m 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 Antrim Council area, Roads Service has earmarked just over £2.2 million for resurfacing works. Asphalt resurfacing of 2km on the M2 motorway, eastbound near the Templepatrick interchange, has been completed, and a further 2.4km of the A6, Moneynick Road is proposed. Other significant resurfacing schemes have been completed at the A26, Tully Road and the B39, Seven Mile Straight."
Mr Brown also referred to the start of the recently announced £1.3 million major improvement work schemes, which provides overtaking lanes on the Tully Road and Moira Road, at Nutt’s Corner and on the Moira Road, near Glenavy.
Mr Brown continued: "It is also worth pointing out that Roads Service has secured significantly enhanced funding for local transport and safety measures and this means that, in the Antrim 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 a £250,000 scheme on the Dublin Road, at the Dungonnell Road junction, involving provision of a right turning lane into Dungonnell Road, improvements to the visibility splays, road realignment and bridge widening, which should be substantially completed this financial year.
At Roguery Road, Toome, 460m of footway have been provided between Gortgill Filling Station and Loughbeg Road. This also incorporated 300m of cycle-way, as part of the National Cycle Network. Traffic calming measures, aimed at improving the village environment, now that the new bypass has opened, will be introduced in Toome Village, at a cost of £60,000.
These measures included the re-introduction of two-way traffic through Main Street, a mini-roundabout at the junction of Main Street and Roguery Road, provision of pedestrian refuge islands, improvements in car parking provision and widening of the footway along the Bann, with provision for cyclists as well as pedestrians. The link, constructed some years ago to help alleviate congestion in the village, has been retained, but traffic flow on it has been reversed.
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.
- For media queries, contact Paddy Cullen or Ann Williamson at DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0007.
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