Roads Service Invest Over Ł1.6 Million In Moyle Area

14 August 2006
ROADS SERVICE INVEST OVER Ł1.6 MILLION IN MOYLE AREA

Capital and maintenance investment totalling Ł1,613,000 is planned for Moyle District Council area in the year ahead.
Speaking to Moyle District Council, Divisional Roads Manager, Jim Beattie said: "The schemes which will be taken forward include:

The realignment of 150 metres of A44 Magheramore Road at Carneatly, at a cost of Ł75,000, to improve the safety record at this location;

Infill footway provision in Ballyvoy village to connect the church, shop/filling station and Barnish Primary School;

Gateway signs and coloured surfacing are proposed on Coleraine Road, Ballycastle, to emphasise the existing speed limits at the entry to the town;

Carriageway resurfacing is also proposed on the A2 Straid Road/Ramoan Road, Ballycastle and B17 Straid Road, Bushmills.

"In the last three years a total of some Ł735million has been spent on developing and maintaining the road network in Northern Ireland - some Ł495million on revenue activities including maintenance with a further some Ł240million on capital. Over the next ten years the draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) envisages that some Ł1.9billion will be invested in road building subject to the availability of resources in future budget rounds, economic appraisal and statutory approvals. Some Ł166million has also been allocated to Roads Structural Maintenance in the three years to 2007/08. When assessing figures for any year it is important to see these figures over a cycle. Safety is always and will remain the top priority."
Mr Beattie said that in the Moyle area the spend on defect repairs, street lighting, grass cutting, winter service and other safety related activities would be maintained at present levels.
Councillors were reminded of the decision that, following the Review of Public Administration, the responsibility for the maintenance, management and development of local roads will transfer to the seven new local authorities in Spring 2009. The local road network consists of all roads except motorways and trunk roads and comprises about 23,700km of the 25,000km of public roads throughout Northern Ireland.
"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 said.
Mr Beattie also informed the Council that the Department for Regional Development takes over the current PSNI responsibilities for parking enforcement this Autumn.
Mr Beattie also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes completed in 2005/06:

The visibility sight splays have been improved at the junction of the Maghery/Lagavar Road at a cost of Ł19,000;

Footways have been provided at Ballyness Road, Bushmills; Middlepark Road, Cushendall; Glen Road, Waterfoot; Drones Road, Armoy; and on the Coast Road, Cushendall, at a total cost of Ł88,000; " Improvements have been made to the bus stops and footway links to the Giant's Causeway at a cost of Ł12,000;

Substantial lengths of carriageway resurfacing have been completed at A2 (Loughareema Road, Straid Road, Tromra Road and Whitepark Road), A43 Glenariff Road, B14 Ballyemon Road and B17 Straid Road.

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

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