Roads Service endeavours to co-ordinate road works

Ballymoney-based Section Engineer John McKinley was speaking at a meeting of Ballymoney Council where Sinn Fein councillor Philip McGuigan said there needs to be greater co-operation.

Cllr McGuigan thanked Mr McKinley for work done on roads around Dunloy but said the Tullaghans Road had a new surface put down two or three years ago which was great and “as smooth a road you could have driven on”.

But he said utility companies then dug it up and the councillor added: “There needs to be greater organisation between utilities.”

Cllr McGuigan said the road is now no longer in the condition it was some time back.

The councillor said he would like to see work carried out at Station Road, Galdanagh Road and Bridge Road as well.

Cllr McGuigan added; “There is sometimes great work done by the Roads Service but nearly immediately they are dug up again.”

But John McKinley said they do their best to ensure schemes are planned.

He said they have “very good co-ordination” between Roads Service and utilities.

He said the procedure is that utility companies can not come in and re-open a re-surfaced work until a year after a scheme has been completed but the exception is if it is an emergency.

“But the co-ordination is pretty good,” insisted Mr McKinley.

He said is fully aware of the Tullaghans Road situation and added: “It can be a great sort of annoyance whenever that happens. It is something I try to keep a tight control of.”