Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
Ireland Construction Directory
Search our 26,229 companies....

Construction News

15/02/2011

Shore Road A2 Upgrade Hit By Cuts

There's a row brewing over news of wasted cash after a major Co Antrim road project has been abruptly shelved.

Following the revelation that the Roads Service has already spent £16m on the A2, Roy Beggs MLA has again questioned why the Minister proposes to commit £675m on the (separate) A5 before completing its investment in the A2 Belfast road.

"It is wasteful of public funds and excessively disruptive to the local community to invest almost one third of the cost of completing a project and then put it on hold," he fumed.

The Alliance East Antrim MLA Sean Neeson has also called on the Sinn Fein Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy to reconsider his decision to postponce the A2 Shore Road upgrade for four years.

That's in spite of £16m having aalready been spent on the A2 for surveying and buying-up of surrounding land and properties.

"The Department for Regional Development should give the go-ahead for the A2 upgrade bearing in mind all the money that has already been spent on it.

"I am concerned that the Minister has not looked at this issue with all the correct facts and has made a party political decision instead of deciding what is in the best interests of the area," said Mr Neeson.
-- Advertisement --



"I am calling on the Minister for reconsider his decision. We have been campaigning on this issue for over 20 years, we can not wait another four years for this vital road scheme."

A Department for Regional Developmet (DRD) spokesman said: "Depending on the outcome of the final budget, Roads Service would manage any properties purchased in line with current policy."

In January, the DRD made its draft budget available for consultation with road building the biggest casualty with the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson and York Street flyover projects also delayed.

But, some projects have escaped the cuts - including the A5, Londonderry to Aughnacloy Road - a part of a major cross-border plan even though it now has to go to a public inquiry before that road-dualling project starts.

At 85km, it was the largest road scheme ever undertaken in Northern Ireland.

Yesterday, the SDLP Regional Development Spokesperson, Conall McDevitt welcomed the announcement that the public inquiry into the proposed A5 road is to proceed.

The South Belfast MLA said: "It's important that all voices are heard during this process.

"I also call on all the major southern parties to reaffirm their support for the A5 and A8 projects," he said, commenting on continuing doubts about the Dublin government's commitment to funding its part of this major western road scheme.

Elsewhere, another project, the A8, which is a spur off the M2 between Belfast and Larne, has also been approved.

But, in counterpoint to the cutbacks, an extra £9m has been earmarked for roads maintenance schemes

The Minister Conor Murphy said: "This additional money is particularly timely, given that the coldest December in over 120 years has had an impact on our road network.

"The freezing conditions experienced in December have caused carriageways to split and potholes to form and Roads Service is giving priority to the repair of the affected roads.

"Roads Service has contingency plans in place for spending any additional funding with its contractors and we expect that work will start very shortly for this additional structural maintenance work."

See: A5 Road Project Facing Inquiry

(BMcC/GK)

Latest Construction News

19/02/2025
Work is set to commence on a new £671m Northern Ireland children's hospital 'in a matter of days', the NI Executive has announced. With a five-year construction timetable, the 10-floor state-of-the-art facility located within Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital site is projected to be opened by Belf
19/02/2025
County Tipperary-based Glas Civil Engineering has commenced works on a major active travel project in County Kildare. The project includes a comprehensive upgrade of Mill Street, Maynooth, spanning from the Leinster Street /Main Street junction to the Kilcock Road / Moyglare Road junction. The en
19/02/2025
Northern Ireland construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a significant contract by Surrey County Council to deliver essential improvements to the A320 north of Woking highway. This is a key infrastructure project funded through Homes England's Housing Infrastructure Fund. The scheme, designed t
19/02/2025
A £1.1m project to provide new and improved facilities at a County Armagh primary school has been completed. Education Minister Paul Givan officially opened the upgraded Foley Primary School, which saw additions of a multi-purpose sports hall, two mobile classrooms, new school central heating syste
19/02/2025
Ward and Burke Construction Ltd has commenced works on behalf of Uisce Éireann to replace ageing and damaged watermains in Snave, County Cork. Over 800 metres of old watermains, which are prone to frequent bursts and leakage, will be replaced and upgraded with new modern pipes. Once completed, whic
19/02/2025
Works to repair a historic clock in County Down have successfully been completed. The refurbishment of Dan Rice Hall's clock tower in Drumaness was made viable following an investment of £15,000 by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, with funds going towards new clock faces, back light feature
19/02/2025
Representatives from Galway City Council and Galway's Westend business association met this week to explore current and future projects for their area. Topics covered during these discussions included potential improvements at Father Burke Park, the current summer pedestrianisation, public realm im
19/02/2025
The deadline for applications to NI Water's award-winning Entry Level Academy has been extended. Submissions for the 23 highly sought after apprenticeship, higher level apprenticeship and graduate jobs will now close on Monday, February 24, at 10am. NI Water's Entry Level Co-ordinator, Stacey Wats
19/02/2025
Public opinion is being sought for the development of an exciting project in County Waterford. The Thomas Street Creative Project is an initiative to inform and shape the local community and the cultural direction of Thomas Street in the heart of Waterford’s Cultural Quarter (WCQ). With the public
19/02/2025
A road closure is set to commence next week to facilitate essential drainage works in advance of a road reconstruction project at the L5036 in County Wicklow. Beginning Monday, February 24, the L5036-Ballinastoe Road will close for approximately 2 weeks. A diversion route will be in place through t
This web site uses cookies to improve your experience and by viewing our content you accept their use. Click here to remove this notice.
MCR Groupinsuremyvan.ieSanctuarysynthetics at GrasslandMcHale Plant Sales LimitedGC Renewables LTDGateFixNIVision Creative StudiosMiller Wholesale LtdFernhill StoneCuchulainn Workwear