Resurfacing work at Greenisland nears end

The Northern Ireland Roads Service announced today that the major resurfacing contract on the A2 Shore Road at Greenisland should be completed ahead of schedule.

The early completion this weekend, a full week earlier than originally scheduled, underlines Roads Service’s efforts to achieve its overriding objective of reducing the duration of disruption during essential road works.

A spokesperson for the Roads Service said: "This is very good news for residents and road users. It has been achieved through a combination of factors such as 12 hour working days, innovative programming by the contractor (FP McCann Ltd) and Roads Service, employing additional resources and the favourable weather.

"This is one of a number of schemes that are currently being undertaken by Roads Service and the programme reflects the increased investment which has enabled us to double the amount of resurfacing work.

"We are attempting to do as much of the disruptive work as possible during the summer months as traffic flows are slightly lower and the better weather and long summer evenings enable us to progress much more quickly.

"It is clear we have to put a big emphasis on health and safety and that means we have to close lanes and sometimes roads to keep the public and workforce safe – it is no fun working on a motorway with traffic flying past at 50mph or more.

"We need to emphasise that this work is absolutely necessary – we wouldn’t be doing it otherwise. A normal motorway resurfacing job involves about three weeks of inconvenience for something that will last 15 years."

(SP)