Council gets update on infrastructure projects for Mid and East Antrim - June 2018

Date published: 13 June 2018

Speaking as he addressed council members, Divisional Roads Manager David Porter said:

“Over the last year, a number of significant resurfacing schemes have been completed in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area, including the A43 Main Street, Cargan; A2 Coast Road, Larne; B100 Ballyrickard Road Larne; B58 New Line, Carrickfergus; B96 Townhill Road, Portglenone; and U2222 Doury Road Estate, Ballymena.

“I am particularly pleased that the work at Lynn’s bridge on A36 Church Road, Glenwherry, has been progressed. This will ensure that the important link to the Port of Larne is maintained. The works were completed before the busy North West 200 race week.”

“These projects will provide widespread benefits to both the local community and commuters in the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area.”

Mr Porter continued:

“The Department’s 2018/19 roads structural maintenance capital budget is £75million. This budget will allow us to deliver a significantly increased number of both Trunk Road and Non-Trunk Road resurfacing schemes, a sustained programme of street lighting upgrades along with a slightly improved LTSM (Local Transportation and Safety Measures) allocation.

“It is clear that the recent severe winter has had a significant detrimental impact on the road network and the Department will continue to identify those roads most in need of repair and deliver this work alongside other ongoing priorities. Almost 40,000 surface defects have been repaired in the last few months. £15million has been set aside for a roads recovery fund which is being used to address areas of immediate need across the network.

“The ongoing maintenance programme will also include an enhanced grass cutting service to ensure all roadside verges and sightline grass will be cut at least twice in the period April to October; along with a full weed spraying operation. This work has now commenced across the region. If our attention is drawn to specific locations where the grass is causing a particular issue we will endeavour to give these areas urgent attention.”