News Release Page Title

28 June 2005

ROADS SERVICE INVEST £12 MILLION IN NEWRY AND MOURNE

Capital investment totalling £12 million is planned for Newry and Mourne this year.

Roads Service Traffic and Network Development Manager Angela Coffey told Newry and Mourne District Council: "This level of investment is indicative of the substantial capital investment throughout Southern Division and indeed the whole of Northern Ireland," as she delivered the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service Annual Report to the Council.

"The A1 Loughbrickland to Beech Hill scheme is progressing well and is on target to meet its completion date of early 2006. Public inquiries have been completed into the Environmental Statement and Direction Order for the Beech Hill to Cloghogue project and preliminary work has started on site at the A1/N1 Newry to Dundalk project.’’

Mrs Coffey welcomed the continued high level of investment in local transport and safety measures in Newry and Mourne for 2005/06, which includes:

  • the C329 Greenpark, Rostrevor;
  • the B30 at Camlough Lake, Camlough;
  • the U6285 Glen Hill, Newry; and
  • the A29 Dundalk Road/Cullyhanna Road, Newtownhamilton.

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

"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.

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

Mrs Coffey also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes completed in 2004/05. Improvement works that have been completed, include:

  • the A2 Ballindoalty Corner;
  • the A37 Concession Road/Loughross Road, Cullaville;
  • the B115 Carrickastricken Road, Forkhill
  • the A2 Newry Road, Killkeel; and
  • traffic-calming schemes have been completed at Iveagh Cresent, Newry; Cloughreagh Park, Bessbrook; Ashgrove Avenue and Ashgrove Road, Newry and Chestnut Grove, Newry.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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

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