23 November 2004
NEARLY £2 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON COLERAINE INFRASTRUCTURE
Almost £2 million is being spent on structural road maintenance in the Coleraine area this year, Principal Engineer, Mr Jim Beattie, revealed when he presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to the local District Council.
Introducing the report, Mr Beattie said: "The level of investment in the Coleraine 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 Coleraine Council area, Roads Service has earmarked almost £2 million for resurfacing works. Asphalt resurfacing of 1.2km of the A29, Carhill Road, and 1.1km of the B66, Ardreagh Road, is now complete and asphalt resurfacing of 900m on the B66, Craigmore Road, is almost complete."
Mr Beattie also referred to the completion of the climbing lane at Springwell Forest on the A37, Dunhill Road. He said: "The 2.5km climbing lane, on the east side of Keady Mountain, has significantly improved overtaking opportunities for Limavady bound traffic."
Mr Beattie 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 Coleraine 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 £320,000 roundabout at the junction of the Dunhill Road and Drumcroone Road (near Macosquin), and a £200,000 carriageway realignment of the ‘S’ bends on the Cashel Road, between Macleary Road and Letterloan Road. Work on these two schemes is expected to start in early 2005.
"In Castlerock, gateway treatment has been carried out on the Sea Road and Freehall Road approaches to the village and a mini-roundabout constructed at the junction of Sea Road / Castle Walk. Further work on the enhancement of crossing facilities for pedestrians on Main Street and the Promenade will be starting shortly. It is also intended to install traffic monitoring cameras at key junctions in Coleraine, and these will be used to monitor traffic movements in the town.
"The hardshoulder on the Ring Road, from Lodge Road to Christie Park, Coleraine has been converted to a designated cycle path to improve the links to the nearby schools, and the existing footway, between Windyhall and Wattstown Roundabout, has been converted to a shared use pedestrian / cycle track, to complete the link to the town from Windyhall housing estate."
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.
Click here to print this press release.
