News Release Page Title

6 June 2005

ROADS SERVICE INVEST £2.3 MILLION IN DOWN

Almost £2.3 million is planned for the Down area this year, said Roads Service Network Maintenance Manager, Kevin Monaghan.

Speaking to Down District Council, as he delivered the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service Annual Report, Mr Monaghan said: "This level of investment is indicative of the substantial capital investment throughout the Southern Division and indeed the whole of Northern Ireland."

Roads Service has begun the process of appointing consultants to carry out a route selection study for the A24 Ballynahinch bypass and to progress the scheme through the statutory processes of Environmental Assessment, Direction Order and Land Vesting.

Mr Monaghan welcomed the continued high level of investment in local transport and safety measures in Down, which includes:

  1. the A2 Shore Road, Strangford forward visibility improvements;
  2. the U227 Burrenreagh Road, Castlewellan;
  3. the B2 Annacloy Road, Downpatrick;
  4. the A7 Belfast/Downpatrick Road at Dornans Rock;
  5. safety measures on the A21 Ballynahinch Road at Tullywest Road; and
  6. the High Street/Windmill Street, Ballynahinch and Ballymaghrealave Road/A24 Drumaness Road junction.

These works will be accompanied by several smaller local transport and safety measures, as well as a substantial resurfacing and surface dressing programme.

"Most road users appreciate that making this sort of improvement can’t be done without some disruption to traffic. But Roads Service is making every effort to keep disruption to a minimum by completing as many major schemes as possible during the summer months when there is generally less traffic and contractors can take advantage of daylight hours.

"Road Service will be making every effort to give motorists advance warning of roadworks through signage and information prior to works. There will also be updated information on our website and radio traffic reports,’’ he said.

Mr Monaghan also highlighted some of the schemes already completed in 2004/05, which include:

  1. a footway has been provided at Kilcoo; and
  2. improvement works have been completed on the B1 Ardglass Road, Tobermoney, Downpatrick.

A number of schemes have been brought forward, including the B176 Bright Crossroads improvement, the A21 Ballynahinch Road, Saintfield, and the A7 Glasswater Road scheme.

Media queries to Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, Tel 028 9054 0007.

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