Other News In Brief

Two Major Resurfacing Schemes Announced In Banbridge And Cullaville

Two major road resurfacing schemes in Banbridge and Cullaville have been announced by the Department for Infrastructure.

A £110,000 carriageway and footway resurfacing scheme on Reilly Street, Banbridge, is due to start on Monday 6 August 2018.

The works will involve resurfacing of the carriageway and footways on Reilly Street, from Scarva Street to Downshire Road, a distance of approximately 400 metres. On completion, this scheme will deliver significant improvements to both the structural integrity and surface of the road and footways.

To facilitate the works Reilly Street will be closed from its junction with Scarva Road to its junction with Downshire Road from 7.30 am on Monday 6 August 2018 to 6.00 pm on Friday 31 August 2018.  The road will remain open at weekends.  During the road closure access will be maintained for properties fronting Reilly Street and also for Reilly Park, Reilly Court and Victoria Park.

A diversion route will be signed with traffic being diverted via Scarva Street, Downshire Place and Downshire Road.

Separately, a £275,000 carriageway resurfacing scheme on the A37 Concession Road, Cullaville will also commence on Monday 6 August 2018.

The resurfacing work will extend a distance of approximately 1.6km from the speed limit signs at Cullaville to Ballynacarry Bridge at the border with County Monaghan. The scheme will deliver significant improvements to both the structural integrity and surface of the road.

Due to the nature of the scheme it will be necessary to operate a daily road closure between the hours of 8.00 am and 6.00 pm from Monday 6 August until Friday 24 August. During these times a diversion will be in place via A37 Concession Road, N53, M1, N52, N2, Castleblaney, N53 and vice versa. Diversionary routes will be clearly signed and local access for residents will be maintained at all times during the works.

Emergency Services Dealing With Fire In Castledawson

Motorists are being advised to avoid Castledawson as emergency services deal with a fire in the Station Road area.

The situation is ongoing and police and fire crews are at the scene. A number of roads in the area have been closed and are expected to remain so for some time.

The town's Main Street is currently closed to traffic at its junction with New Row. Station Road and Moyola Avenue are also closed. Diversions in place. Motorists advised to avoid the area if possible.

Alliance Welcomes Intergovernmental Conference

Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA has welcomed the first British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and said its key challenge is helping restart talks to restore devolution here.

Mrs Long said: "Despite the length of time to arrange this meeting and arguments over the format, it is welcome the two Governments have met again in a formal capacity, no matter the set-up.

"In this time of massive political uncertainty, we need much more structured engagements between the UK and Irish Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. The ongoing situation relating to the lack of an Executive is not sustainable and the key challenge for any Governmental meeting, now or in the future, is helping restart talks and identifying an independent chair.

"Alliance's Next Steps Forward document suggested a number of steps which could be taken to get devolution re-established. One of them was the reconvening of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, so it is important others, such as appointing a talks mediator ahead of intensive talks, are also followed through on immediately."

(MH)