Hopes rise for upgrade of busy Saintfield road

Hopes rise for upgrade of busy Saintfield road

30 October 2013

MUCH-NEEDED road improvement works to one of Downpatrick’s main arterial routes could finally get underway.

An upgrade of the A7 at Doran’s Rock outside Saintfield seems likely after a £5m cash injection from Finance Minister Simon Hamilton to the Department for Regional Development (DRD).

While it has yet to be decided how the additional funding for transport safety and road improvements will be spent, Mr. Hamilton said he understood the A7 was one of the projects Roads Service wanted to take forward.

“The campaign to improve the A7 outside Saintfield has been going on for many years,” he said.

“Everyone knows that this is a busy road and can be dangerous in parts so any improvements, even small, are extremely positive.

“Whilst there has been no official word from DRD on the planned improvements to widen 1.8 kilometres of the A7 between Rowallane and Doran’s Rock and improve visibility, I know that the money allocated to the Department for Regional Development is earmarked for schemes just like this one.

“I have spoken directly with the Roads Minister and I know that this is one of the schemes that he would like to take forward next year using the additional money he has been reallocated for 2014/2015.

“He has publicly expressed his desire to see smaller road improvement schemes like the A7 being brought forward and I hope that this funding allocation plus the minister’s hopes adds up to good news for Saintfield.”

Mr. Hamilton said the A7 improvements may not appear as strategically significant as some other proposed roads projects, but argued it would provide a boost for this part of Down — helping the construction industry as well as enhancing road safety and reducing journey times.

“This is the main arterial route from Belfast through the Down District and it is critical that it is invested in so that standards are improved,” he said.

Rowallane DUP councillor William Dick said there had been “many years

of campaigning” for improvements to this narrow road without verges, which |is unsuitable for cyclists and pedestrians.

“At last we are making positive progress in having the conditions of the A7 acknowledged by all as substandard,” he said.

“I hope that the Minister is now able to advance the A7 scheme and look forward to some positive news in the near future.

“I hope this work can be carried out in the next financial year.”