15 March 2005
SPELLAR ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF £13 MILLION INVESTMENT ON THE BELFAST TO LARNE ROAD
Minister of State, John Spellar, MP, today announced the completion of a new road link at Ballynure on the A8 Belfast to Larne Road.
The new road is the final part of a package of improvements for the Belfast to Larne Road, valued at £13.3 million. The scheme involved construction of 0.9km of new road, linking the A8 to the Carrickfergus Road on the south side of Ballynure, a new roundabout at the A8/A57 road junction and speed reduction measures through the village.
The Minister said: "The A8 is a strategic road link between Belfast and the Port of Larne. Currently up to half of Northern Ireland’s containerised cargo and around one third of all tourist traffic moves through the Port of Larne. It is vital to the economy of Northern Ireland that Larne is serviced by modern and efficient road links.
"I am delighted that this new road link is now open, as it marks the completion of an investment of over £13 million on the Belfast to Larne Road, which started in 2001."
The opening was performed on site by the Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Ted Turkington, who cut a ribbon and declared the new Ballynure Link Road open.
The scheme was constructed by John Graham Construction Ltd and funded through the Strategic Investment Fund. Work on the link road scheme started in April 2004, and was completed within the planned timescale.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- This scheme is the last in the programme of four major works schemes on the A8 Belfast to Larne Road. Other improvement measures in the programme include:
- Climbing lanes, north & south of Ballynure, which were completed in December 2002;
- Two new roundabouts at Millbrook and Antiville, Larne, which were completed in May 2003 and January 2004, respectively;
- 2.2km of dual carriageway on the A8 between Doagh Road and Coleman’s Corner, which was completed in July 2004.
- Ballynure Link Road scheme, which commenced in April 2004 and includes:
- the construction of a roundabout on the A8 Belfast to Larne Road at the A57 Templepatrick Road junction;
- a new link road, approximately 0.9 km long, extending from the new roundabout at the A8/A57 junction to the B58 Carrickfergus Road;
- differential acceleration lane on the westbound carriageway of the A57, to allow vehicles leaving the roundabout to overtake slow moving vehicles;
- speed reduction measures and gateway features, with 40mph speed limit on the A8 Belfast to Larne Road through Ballynure, and associated landscaping;
- improvement of the street lighting through Ballynure and the existing pedestrian underpass;
- improvement of the bus stop facilities in Ballynure; and
- extension of the shared cycleway / footway through Ballynure.
2. The project was designed and supervised by Scott Wilson Ltd and Ferguson and McIlveen for Roads Service.
3. For media enquiries contact Emma Flynn-Davies DRD Press Office on Tel: 028 9054 0372
Click here to print this press release.
