Council hears nitty-gritty of Road schemes

At the outset of a special Council meeting in The Braid last week, Divisional Roads Manager Deirdre Mackle welcomed last year’s record multi-million pound expenditure on structural maintenance which allowed Roads Service to deliver a number of much needed projects across the province.

In the Ballymena borough last year, she stated that a total of 21.7km of resurfacing and 50.4km of surface dressing was completed.

Significant lengths of resurfacing were completed at A42 Carnlough Road, B18 Whitesides Road, B52 Largy Road and B53 Ferniskey Road, councillors heard.

Road improvement schemes delivered last year included a 690m extension of the Ballymena to Cullybackey footway to complete the third of four stages and approximately 325m of footway on Glenravel Road which, the meeting heard, now all but completes the link from Cargan Village to Glenravel Sports and Community Centre.

Councillors were also told that measures to reduce queuing and assist pedestrian movements at Galgorm Road/North Road junction Ballymena have been introduced and included the upgrading of traffic signals, enhanced pedestrian provision and improved vehicle detection equipment.

A free flow left turn from Galgorm Road into North Road was also reintroduced as part of the overall improvements. Upgrading of footway and traffic signals on Lower Bridge Street between North Road and Linenhall Street has also been completed.

In addition a new style puffin pedestrian crossing was installed at the Diamond in Ahoghill and the waterproofing system on Crebilly Bridge in Ballymena was renewed.

Speaking prior to the meeting, Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has congratulated Roads Service and its contractors for the successful completion of the record number of road resurfacing schemes in 2011/2012 which amounted to £2.1million.

The Minister said: “Last year’s budget for structural maintenance and local transport and safety measures allowed a good range of such schemes to be successfully delivered by Roads Service.

“Roads Service’s budgets for road maintenance and improvement schemes are greatly reduced this year, in line with the four year budget agreed by the Executive. However, Roads Service is using its available resources effectively and continuing to deliver quality public services”.

He continued: “Preparatory work on the A26 Frosses Road dual carriageway scheme between Glarryford crossroads and Drones Road is progressing well. I announced the publication of the Draft Statutory Orders in March which was followed by a public exhibition event which gave the public an opportunity to view the proposals and speak to a Roads Service Team.

“Following consideration of the responses made to the draft Orders, a Public Inquiry into the scheme could be held in the autumn of this year. Due to the two-fifths reduction in the 2011-2015 NI budget construction of the scheme will not take place until after 2015 at the earliest.”

The Minister also welcomed Roads Service’s ‘Safer Routes to Schools Programme’ which included new signage with flashing lights and additional road markings on the approaches to St Patrick’s/St Brigid’s Schools on the Broughshane Road and at Slemish College on the Larne Road Ballymena.