Council receives an update on infrastructure projects for Ards and North Down Borough Council 2021

Ards and North Down Borough Council members have been updated by the Department for Infrastructure on road maintenance, improvement works and active travel schemes in 2020/21 and those planned for 2021/22.

Speaking as he addressed Council members this evening, Divisional Roads Manager, Mr Mark McPeak said: 

“The 2020/21 year was unprecedented due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However we worked closely with our contractors to develop new working practices to ensure that much needed road maintenance and improvement works could proceed and as a result most of our 2020/21 programme was successfully delivered despite the absence of work over the first part of the year.

“During the year a number of significant resurfacing schemes have been completed including the Belfast Road in Ballygowan, Cultra Avenue in Holywood; Grangee Road in Carrowdore; and Kylestone Road in Donaghadee.

“Minister Mallon is committed to the delivery of active travel schemes across the north and to making walking, wheeling and cycling a safer and more attractive option for people getting around. As a result, £330,000 from the Minister’s Blue/Green Fund will be used to progress an active travel scheme in the 2021/22 year involving the upgrading of a shared footway/cycleway on the Comber Greenway that will entail widening the existing greenway to four metres from Billy Neill Playing Fields to the start of the Comber Greenway.

"In the 2020/21 financial year Minister Mallon announced the roll out of new part-time 20mph speed limit schemes to improve road safety and I am pleased to confirm six schools in the Ards and North Down area, have been completed and are operational from the start of the new school year. Minister Mallon recently announced more funding in the 2021/22 financial year for a further tranche of part-time 20mph speed limits and it is proposed to provide this at nine schools in the Council area."

Continuing Mr McPeak said:

“The Minister recognises the importance of street lighting and allocated sufficient funding to ensure the repair service was delivered across the full 2020/21 year; the Minister has again allocated sufficient funding this year to maintain this level of service.  Total expenditure on street lighting during the 2020/21 year amounted to approximately £2m and included both full system replacement schemes and energy efficient LED lantern schemes. Among the areas that received LED lighting were the A2 Holywood as well as the East and West Circular Roads in Bangor."

Concluding Mr McPeak said:

“The Department will continue to develop local transport and safety schemes and maintenance programmes to enhance safety, improve traffic progression and provide measures for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Notes to editors: 

1. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
2. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hour’s service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
3. Follow us on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

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