Potholes to be repaired after grants

Potholes to be repaired after grants

29 June 2016

A NUMBER of rural roads are expected to be repaired as part of a £10m Province-wide investment initiative.

Stormont Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard confirmed yesterday that he is making the money available to improve the condition of 1,000 rural roads which will be resurfaced.

Mr Hazzard was at the Old Belfast Road in Saintfield with Transport NI official Stephen Duffy to announce details of the investment package. While there, he inspected pot holes in the road which is expected to be one of those upgraded as a result of the £10m which has been allocated to the Department of Infrastructure by Stormont Finance Minister Mártín Ó Mulleoir.

Mr Hazzard said £3.3m is being invested to upgrade rural roads across the southern division which includes the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area.

“I am delighted to announce that rural communities across the region will benefit from a £10m road improvement package to stop deterioration and repair severe defects on their local road network,” he said.

“The improvements will target around 1,000 rural roads, repairing many short lengths of road in particularly poor condition, together with a number of longer resurfacing schemes.”

Mr Hazzard said in the current difficult financial period, it is necessary to prioritise resources, suggesting that for too long, rural communities have ped down the priority list. 

He said the new investment will go some way to addressing that imbalance, giving rural communities across the region roads that are fit for purpose and that will stand the test of time and weather.

Mr Hazzard added: “My department is currently considering areas in greatest need and will draw up programmes to enable work to start as soon as possible.”

In addition to resurfacing, the new funding initiative provides the potential for some additional road drainage enhancements to address a number of surface ponding issues at various locations across the rural network.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said in light of the additional funding announcement, she has asked Transport NI to ring fence a significant proportion of the money for local roads.

“I previously made robust representations to Transport NI to highlight a number of rural roads in the constituency which need considerable maintenance, only to be advised funding was not available,” she continued.

“Further to a substantial sum of monies being allocated to the roads budget, I have asked the area’s divisional roads manager to consider the urgent resurfacing of a number of roads within the constituency, including Saul Street, Saul Road and the Rathkeltair Road in Downpatrick; the Downpatrick to Cumber Road in Drumaness, Edendarriff Road, Ballynahinch, the B1 Ardglass Road and the Strangford Road between the Steamboat Quay and Lisboy Road.”

The MP added: “The upgrade of these roads and others across South Down will improve road safety for motorists, pedestrians and all road users. It is essential funding is allocated for these schemes without delay and for the benefit of all.”