McKay meets Roads Chief to discuss A26

Mr McKay raised the issue of the A26 and urged Roads Service to provide more pedestrian facilities in rural areas.

He said: “The A26 upgrading will make a huge difference to commuters from places such as Ballycastle and Ballymoney and I am encouraged by the amount of preparatory work that has been done thus far by Roads Service.

“There is no good reason why work should not begin on this and appropriate money allocated by the Regional Development Minister as soon as the preparatory work is completed.

“It will cut down travel times and improve the safety of this notorious stretch of carriageway.

!I would like to see us come to a position where workers would be on site by the end of 2014, that is what we should be striving towards.

“This project is worth tens of millions of pounds and will also bolster the construction industry.”

The North Antrim MLA also raised the matter of footpaths in rural areas.

Mr McKay said: “Sinn Féin has got proposals to the early stages of development for Rasharkin-Finvoy, Rasharkin - Dreen Road, Cloughmills - St Brigid’s GAC.

“We also raised the need to complete the rural footpath in Glenravel to Martinstown.

“DRD has stated that they want to encourage members of the public to be active, to walk, to cycle and to have more options in terms of travel.

“They need to follow through on this and provide more pedestrian provision in rural areas, not least because of the road safety issues around these sites.

“We will continue to pursue these proposals in the months ahead.”

North Antrim Sinn Fein Daithí McKay MLA is pictured here outside the Roads Service Northern Division headquarters in Coleraine.

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