Roads Service Face Criticism

There has been public outcry at the Roads Service failure to complete road works to Jordanstown Road by a deadline.

Roads Service had given an assurance that the Jordanstown Road would reopen before the end of the month. But now, after a series of delays, it seems that it could be early October before motorists will be able to use the route.

The roads authority previously claimed that the busy road, which has been closed for several months for improvement works, would reopen to traffic on September 5.


A Roads Service spokesperson said that contractors are still carrying out essential work for BT in the Jordanstown Road area, meaning the final completion of the roadworks has had to be put on hold.

"Roads Service intended to have the road reopened by Monday, September 5. However, due to a slight delay in the works the road is now anticipated to reopen the week beginning Monday, September 26," she commented.

While BT claimed that its work to relocate underground cables would be completed by September 19, Roads Service later revealed that reopening of the road could now be delayed until October 3.

However, electronic diversion signs in the area have since been telling motorists that the road will be closed until September 31 - a date that doesn’t even exist.

One local resident who contacted the Times this week hit out at the prolonged closure, describing the situation as "farcical".

"I suppose if you can’t meet your deadlines you my as well invent a non existent date,"he said.

(LB/GK)