£20.37 million investment in roads

The Minister also said that his Department was facing £60 million of cuts in 2015/16, more than half of which will fall to TransportNI, which is having a significant impact on services in particular maintenance activities in all areas.

The Minister said: “As it stands, my budget does not provide for sufficient service provision in areas like repair of potholes, street lights and traffic signals and other measures such as gully emptying and grass cutting at junctions

“In April the main construction work commenced on the scheme to dual 7.8 kilometres of the A26 Frosses Road between Glarryford crossroads and Drones Road. Work on the £55million scheme will continue for a period of 28 months, with completion expected in summer 2017.

“The impact of current resource budget pressures on my Department is affecting routine maintenance of the road network; however capital budgets are less affected.

“Departmental officials will continue to develop resurfacing and traffic management schemes, to enhance safety, to improve traffic flow and provide measures for pedestrians and cyclists,” said Danny Kennedy.

At a meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Council on Tuesday, Northern Division Manager, Deidre Mackle, outlined a number of improvement and maintenance schemes that were completed in 2014/15.

“Other significant areas of work completed by the Division include over 1kilometre of cycle/footway on Corkey Road, Loughguile to connect the hamlets of Ben Vista and Rockend.

“Approximately 50kilometres of carriageway was resurfaced at a total cost of £5.5million in 2014/15 at locations including Sandelford Bridge, and Strand Road roundabout Coleraine; A26 Newbridge Road and A44 Drones Road Ballymoney; C106 Glendun Road Cushendall and South Spine Road in Rathlin Island.”