Roads Service To Invest Ł4 Million In Down

6 June 2006
ROADS SERVICE TO INVEST Ł4 MILLION IN DOWN

Capital and maintenance investment totalling almost Ł4 million is planned for the Down area in the year ahead.
Speaking to Down District Council, Traffic and Network Development Manager, Mr Bertie Ellison, said: "The extension to the existing differential acceleration lane (DAL) on the A7 Crossgar Road, Saintfield was finished in February 2006. Other schemes which will be taken forward around Down include visibility improvements to the Shore Road, Strangford and Dublin Road/Burrenreagh Road, Castlewellan. Junction improvements at Magheraloan Road, Annacloy and provision of footways at Downpatrick Road, Ardglass and Station Road, Killough.
"Roads Service is making every effort to keep disruption to a minimum by completing as many schemes as possible during the summer months when there is generally less traffic. However, most road users appreciate that road improvements can't be done without some disruption to traffic," said Mr Ellison.
"In the last three years some Ł735 million has been spent on developing and maintaining the road network across Northern Ireland - Ł495 million on road maintenance and Ł240 million on capital improvements. This represents a huge investment."
Councillors were reminded of the decision, following the Review of Public Administration, that the responsibility for local roads is expected to transfer to seven new local authorities in Spring 2009. The local road network consists of all roads except motorways and trunk roads and comprises about 23700 km of the 25000 km of public roads throughout Northern Ireland.
Mr Ellison said: "Roads Service is currently assessing the implications of this decision and identifying how it can help to facilitate the smooth transfer of local roads responsibilities. The associated financial, staff and other resource consequences will require careful consideration."
He informed the Council that the Department for Regional Development would be taking over the PSNI's current responsibilities for parking enforcement in Autumn 2006.
At the meeting Mr Ellison took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes completed in 2005/06. These included:

provision of a right turning lane at Belfast Road/Finnebrouge Road, Downpatrick (final completion June 2006);

carriageway realignment and visibility improvements at Annacloy Road, Downpatrick (expected completion July 2006); and

verge strengthening along Belfast to Newcastle Road near Tannaghmore Road junction.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Media queries to: Paddy Cullen or Emma Flynn Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, Tel: 028 9054 0007.

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