News Release Page Title

8 June 2006

£840,000 ROAD SCHEME FOR BELFAST TO BANGOR ROAD

Work is expected to start on the A2 Belfast to Bangor Road to resurface the road on 17 June 2006.

The section of road involved is the 1.5km Holywood bypass between Palace Barracks and Sullivan Place and the work is scheduled to take ten weeks to compete.

A DRD Roads Service spokesperson said: "Up to 50,000 vehicles per day travel along this road and disruption due to the works will unfortunately, be unavoidable. However Roads Service and contractor Northstone (NI) Ltd have carefully programmed the works operations and traffic management arrangements, in order to minimise inconvenience to the travelling public."

The scheme will be carried out in two phases:-

Phase 1 - 17 June to 7 July 2006 - Bangor bound carriageway

Phase 2 - 17 July to 28 August 2006 - Belfast bound carriageway

While Phase 1 construction takes place the Bangor bound carriageway will be closed to traffic. All traffic will use the Belfast bound carriageway in a tidal contraflow system. This means utilising the hard shoulder as a running lane and 2 lanes of traffic will operate Belfast bound during the morning. The arrangement will be switched around to ensure 2 lanes are dedicated to Bangor bound traffic in the afternoon with one lane available for Belfast bound traffic.

While Phase 2 construction takes place the Belfast bound carriageway will be closed to traffic. All traffic will use the Bangor bound carriageway in a similar tidal contraflow system as described above for Phase 1.

During both phases the right turn movement from A2 Holywood bypass to Belfast Road at Palace Barracks will not be possible and alternative route signing will be in place to assist the travelling public.

There will be four Sundays, during the contract, when the Sullivan Place junction with the A2 will be required to be closed to facilitate the resurfacing works. The dates are 25 June, 2 July, 20 August and 27 August 2006.

Roads Service will be carrying out an extensive publicity campaign in order to inform the public, local businesses and residents and advance information signs are in place, at each end of the scheme.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. For further information contact the Roads Service Section Office in Bangor, Tel: 028 9127 9800.

  2. Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, 028 9054 0372.

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