Local roads get record £80m spend

A record £80 million will be spent on structural roads maintenance this year across Northern Ireland.

The figure was revealed by Deputy Divisional Roads Manager, Tom McCourt as he presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to Newtownabbey Borough Council.

Mr McCourt said: "This is a huge increase in investment over previous years. It is the highest level of spend on record and matches the figure envisaged by the Regional Transportation Strategy.

"In the Newtownabbey Borough Council area, major resurfacing work has been completed on the M2 between Fortwilliam and Greencastle and on the A2 Shore Road Between Jordanstown and Silverstream Banks."

Roads Service also plans to spend £462,000 on the Motorways and Trunk Road Network and £792,000 on carriageways and footways in the Newtownabbey Council area.

Mr McCourt added: "It is necessary to maintain our roads regularly to strengthen them, improve the running surface and improve safety for all road users. Most types of road repairs will cause some traffic disruption.

"However, Roads Service has been working hard to minimise delays by keeping road closures to a minimum and avoiding peak traffic times where possible. Our contractors have also taken advantage of the good summer and autumn weather to progress schemes during this period."

Meanwhile, a record of over £3 million will be spent on structural roads maintenance in the Armagh City and District Council in the coming year.

Divisional Roads Manager, John White said the money would be spent on improving roads in Armagh City, Keady, and the border areas in the county.

(MB)