Disruption looms as work starts on Lodge Road roundabout

The contract to deliver £670,000 of capital schemes has been awarded to Patrick Bradley Limited.

Work will start on the Ring Road to upgrade drainage and kerbing ahead of resurfacing operations to enable an additional lane in each direction between the two roundabouts.

This in turn will enable alterations to be made to the existing signals and lane markings on the Lodge Road Roundabout to provide an additional lane on the exit towards the ring road in the Portrush direction.

Since the initial announcement of this particular scheme, three additional packages of work have been bought forward by Transport NI to provide a new shared cycleway/footway along the ring road and new traffic signals at the entrance to the superstore and at the Newmills Road junction.

In addition the opportunity has been taken to upgrade the old street lighting to a new LED system which will be easier to maintain. The total cost for all the work is expected to be just under £1million.

Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy said:“There is an issue of congestion at Lodge Road roundabout and this scheme will increase the capacity of the roundabout to deal with traffic travelling north on the ring road.

“The improvements will reduce delays for residents, businesses and industry at this key junction which serves as a gateway to the town and wider area.”

In order to minimise any inconvenience to the public, the works will be carefully programmed, taking account of a number of large events due to take place in the area. Details of any restrictions will be publicised in advance once they have been finalised.

Work is programmed to be complete by the end of November.