Murphy welcomes Coleraine schemes

He also hailed the planned 2.84 million for structural maintenance in the area.

Speaking ahead of a meeting between Coleraine Borough Council and Roads Service on Tuesday, Mr Murphy said: "A range of local scheme has been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year.

"While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services."

Improvement schemes completed in 2009/10 included carriageway realignment and junction visibility sight splay improvements at Mathers Cross.

The first phase of a combined footway/cycleway to link Articlave and Coleraine was completed on the A2 Quilly Road between Drumaquill Road and Masteragwee.

In total, 16.1 kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced at a total cost of 1.53million, the most significant being the schemes at Dunhill Road, Priestland Road and Edenbane Road.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting, Uel Wilson, Divisional Roads Manager (Acting) welcomed investment in road maintenance which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter.

He said: "A programme of resurfacing works includes 900 metres of the A2 Quilly Road, 380 metres of the A2 Mussenden Road and 1,200 metres of the Edenbane Road."

Roads Service also presented the Council with a programme for local transport and safety measures, which is currently being developed for the area.

"These projects, which include pedestrian measures such as a pedestrian crossing island at Strand Road, Coleraine and a pelican crossing at Railway Road, Coleraine, will be delivered as resources permit.