A2 ‘on schedule’ as 500k working hours reached

Pictured with Transport Minister Danny Kennedy during a site visit are Basil Hassard, Transport NI project Manager and Stephen McFaul, project manager. Picture by Brian Morrison

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy indicated that the £50million Shore Road Greenisland project has reached a landmark 500,000 working hours point.

The project is now almost two years into a very demanding programme and it is “well on schedule” to finish during the summer, a spokesperson for the Department of Regional Development said.

The investment involves upgrading a 3.5kilometre stretch of the carriageway between Jordanstown Road and Seapark to dual carriageway standard.

Improvements will also include four new roundabouts at Shore Avenue, Shorelands, Station Road Greenisland and Seapark junction.

Speaking during a recent site visit, Mr Kennedy said: “Progress on this major investment is outstanding and as work reaches its 500,000 working hours point I congratulate everyone who is helping to successfully deliver this project.

“I would like to specifically thank local residents and property owners, business owners, drivers and other road users for their patience and co-operation while work is progressing.

“Once completed later this year, this scheme will significantly ease the long-standing traffic congestion on this busy route which carries around 35,000 vehicles each day.”

Along the on-line section between Jordanstown Road and Station Road the new carriageway in the Carrickfergus bound direction has been constructed and is open to facilitate contra-flow traffic.

The existing road is now being reconstructed to become the Belfast bound carriageway. Accommodation works for adjacent properties, retaining walls, utility diversions, culvert construction and construction of the carriageway are ongoing.

Along the off-line section between Station Road and Seapark the road pavement and construction of Whinfield Lane bridge is substantially complete.

TransportNI’s commitment at the outset of the scheme, that one lane of traffic in each direction along Shore Road, through the works site would be maintained has been and continues to be met. This matches the traffic conditions prior to the scheme commencing.