Roads Service holds motorway expansion exhibitions

The Roads Service is to hold a series of public exhibitions to explain the proposed improvements to the M2 motorway widening between Sandyknowes and Greencastle on the outskirts of Belfast.

The proposals form part of the £100 million, 'Design, Build, Finance and Operate' package, announced in March and includes plans to improve the M1/Westlink and M2 at Antrim Area Hospital.

At present, the major problem on the M2 is morning peak congestion. The motorway, south of Sandyknowes, carries 56,000 vehicles a day in both directions, exceeding the capacity of the existing two-lane motorway at peak times.

The proposals for the improvements to the M2 between Sandyknowes and Greencastle include:

• Widening the existing city-bound carriageway to create an additional lane between the Sandyknowes on slip and the Shore Road off slip and to continue three traffic lanes through the Greencastle junction.
• Widening the country-bound carriageway at the Greencastle Interchange to provide three continuous lanes through the junction.
• Replacement of three of the substandard bridges over the motorway at Hightown Bridge, Collin Bridge and Longlands Bridge.
• Upgrade of the street lighting, signage and drainage along this section of the route.

Commenting on the proposals, Joe Drew, Divisional Roads Manager, Eastern Division, said: “Roads Service’s exhibition is an opportunity for the public to see and comment on the outline proposals to widen the M2.

Congestion is a daily problem on this stretch of dual carriageway and I would encourage people to come along and see for themselves the solutions being proposed to address the current traffic situation.”

Information, drawings and plans on the proposed M2 widening will be on display at the exhibition in the Valley Leisure Centre, Newtownabbey, on the following dates:

Wednesday 28 July between 4pm and 9pm; Thursday 29 July between 2pm and 9pm; Wednesday 18 August between 2pm and 9pm; and Thursday 19 August between 2pm and 9pm.

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