Major road improvement scheme is on the way for Maghaberry

Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy announced the introduction of the road improvement scheme in the village, this week.

Work is due to start at the C7 Mullaghcarton Road at the junctions between with Whitelane Road and Limekiln Road, on March 10 with a completion date of May.

The Department have advised motorists to allow more additional time for their journey while using this route.

The Department say that they have carefully programmed the works operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise any inconvenience to the public. However, lane restrictions will be in place and motorists have been asked to be aware that there may be some localised delays.

Mr Tinsley who had attended site meetings said that the scheme has been long awaited and said that he was glad that work was about to begin.

“Any scheme to improve the roads in Maghaberry, as long as any issues with landowners have been ironed out, must be welcomed,” he said.

“Maghaberry has become a very busy and fast growing village which has accumulated a lot of traffic and therefore congestion on the roads.

“We are aware of complaints from motorists about the difficulties they have had leaving the junction and the volume of traffic, especially slow moving traffic.

“There has been a lot of investment recently in the village and that has to be welcomed too.” He said that residents will be pleased that at long last it will become a reality. “This is really good news,” Mr Tinsley said. “It has been a long awaited scheme and now it will become a reality.

“The road was never designed to take this volume of traffic but due to the expansion of the village, improvements were needed. “

He continued, “The road is a main route in and out of the village and is busy especially around ‘rush hour’ times with commuters and parents doing the school run.”

“This will greatly improve safety and aid the movement of traffic at these junctions.”

Local Ulster Unionist Councillor Alexander Redpath said: “I’m sure we can all agree that efforts to improve the safety are very welcome.

“This is a very busy back road into Lisburn and carries a large volume of traffic especially at rush hour.

“Improving visability at these two junctions will reduce the risk of accidents and improve traffic flow along these roads.”