Ł3.2 Million Bridge Widening Scheme To Begin In January

22 December 2004
Ł3.2 MILLION BRIDGE WIDENING SCHEME TO BEGIN IN JANUARY
A Ł3.2 million scheme, to strengthen and widen the Bann River Bridge in Portadown, will begin in the second week in January, DRD Roads Service has announced.
The scheme, which will be carried out on behalf of Roads Service by Farrans Construction Ltd, is scheduled to be completed in November 2005.
Welcoming the announcement, DRD Minister, Mr John Spellar,MP, said:-
"This scheme will replace the present substandard bridge with one worthy of its prime location in the centre of the town. In doing so, it will improve the commercial and business life of the town, as well as enhancing the environment.
"When completed, the work will provide an additional traffic lane in the direction of Lurgan, thereby creating two traffic lanes in both directions. It will provide cycle tracks in both directions, as well as improved footways. In addition, there will be work undertaken to upgrade and improve facilities in the adjacent Pleasure Gardens, providing new seating and walkway areas and planting new trees and shrubs.
"Every effort will be made to minimise disruption during the course of the scheme and temporary traffic management measures will retain one lane of traffic, in each direction, over the existing bridge. A maximum of four road closures will be required in the immediate vicinity of the bridge, during the construction phase of the project. The public will be notified of these well in advance and in order to keep inconvenience to a minimum, these closures will take place between 20.00 hours on Saturday and 06.00 hours on Monday," the Minister added.
Roads Service has provided further detailed information on the scheme in leaflets which can be obtained from local Post Offices, Libraries and Tourist Information Centres.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For media enquiries, please contact Ann Williamson, 028 9054 0372 or Paddy Cullen, 028 9054 0817 in the DRD Press Office.

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