M2 Junction 7 Crosskennan slip roads - overview

Status:

• constructed

Cost:

• £2.5m

Overview:

When Antrim Area Hospital opened in 1994, M2 Junction 7 off-slips were constructed to provide rapid access from the M2 motorway to the hospital. The junction layout did not permit access to the motorway and road users had to travel to the next junction to join the motorway, adding five to ten minutes to their journey.

Construction of new motorway on-slips allows immediate access on to the M2 northwest towards Randalstown and southeast towards Belfast. The works are part of Roads Service’s first Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract for the improvement and maintenance of Northern Ireland’s key transport corridors. The PPP contract uses the Design, Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) approach where road improvements are designed, constructed and financed by a private sector consortium.

Contractor HMC - a joint venture comprising Graham, Farrans and Bilfinger Berger - was awarded the Public Private Partnership Package 1 on 17 January 2006. PPP Package 1 included:

• widening of Belfast’s Westlink between Broadway and Grosvenor Road junction and includes grade separation of each junction
• widening the southbound lane of the M2 motorway between Junction 2 at Greencastle and Junction 4 at Sandyknowes
• construction of the motorway on-slips at M2 Junction 7 beside Antrim Area Hospital
• 30 year operation and maintenance of 60 kilometres of motorway and trunks roads

Key dates:

• opened to traffic on 29 June 2007

Updated: 20 August 2015