A26 safety reviewnearing completion

DRD Minister Michelle McIlveen’s revelation came during Assembly Question Time in response to a query from TUV leader, Jim Allister. on safety issues surrounding the Woodgreen Junction between Ballymena and Antrim which has been the scene of many fatalities over the years.

Earlier this month, a 25-year-old local woman died after a two-car crash in fog on the Lisnevenagh Road close to its junction with Woodgreen.

Local politicians and residents have repeatedly raised concerns over the road’s safety. DUP Councillor Beth Adger has been calling for traffic-calming measures in the area for over a decade and last year SDLP Cr Declan O’Loan called for a full review in the wake of a fatal collision.

Transport NI is carrying out the review from one end of the road at Ballee to the other at Dunsilly.

In response to a query from Mr Allister during Assembly Questions over the need for safety improvement works at Woodgreen following the most recent fatality, Ms McIlveen confirmed the safety review is almost complete.

She said: “That review included an examination of all the collisions that have occurred in the last three years, up to March 2015, for which details are available. Transport NI officials have also met PSNI staff — traffic safety officers — on site to discuss possible engineering and enforcement measures that not only seek to reduce the severity of collisions but should reduce the likelihood of them happening in the first instance. I have been informed that the review is substantially complete and will make a number of recommendations for action along that section of the A26, including at the site of the most recent tragedy.”