Ulster Unionist Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy, today, announced his decision to proceed with the £100million A8, Belfast to Larne, dual carriageway scheme.
Having considered the Inspector’s Report into the Public Inquiries on the A8 scheme, the Minister has tasked Roads Service to progress the project, taking into account the Inspector’s recommended amendments. The Inspector recommended that the proposed dual carriageway should be constructed in accordance with the preferred route, which bypasses Bruslee and Ballynure.
Construction of the scheme, by the consortium Lagan, Ferrovial and Costain, will provide 14.4 kilometres of new dual carriageway from Coleman’s Corner Roundabout to Ballyrickard Road. Work on the dual carriageway is expected to start in June this year and take two and a half years to complete.
Commenting on the scheme, Mr Kennedy said: “I welcome the benefits to road users with the provision of a new all purpose dual carriageway. This will help reduce journey times, improve road safety along the A8, and help the development of the Port of Larne, which is the second largest Port in Northern Ireland.
“As part of the Trans European Network, the A8 is a strategically significant Euro route, which provides an important East-West link, between Northern Ireland and Scotland, via the Port of Larne.”
The Minister added: “In the current economic climate, the commencement of this dual carriageway, along the Eastern Seaboard Key Transport Corridor, will be welcome news for the construction industry and when completed, will contribute to the overall economic development of Northern Ireland.
“The scheme should lead to an increase in demand for local suppliers of construction material as well as a boost to commercial trade in the surrounding area.”
The Inspector made over 130 recommendations, which include, keeping Church Road open, the removal of the Rushvale Road – Calhame Road link and the provision of agricultural crossing facilities. The remaining recommendations made by the Inspector are relatively minor and typically relate to accommodation works, provision of additional information, or recommendations for the detailed design or construction phase. The Inspector’s Report and the Department for Regional Development’s (DRD), Statement on the way forward will be available to view from 1 May 2012 at the following DRD offices:
- Roads Service - Headquarters, Room 2-01, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8GB;
- Roads Service - Northern Division, County Hall, Castlerock Road, Coleraine BT52 3HS;
- Roads Service - Eastern Division, Hydebank, 4 Hospital Road, BT8 8JL;
- Newtownabbey Borough Council, Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, BT36 5QA;
Or can be downloaded from the A8 Belfast to Larne Dualling website at http://www.roadsni.gov.uk/A8BelfastLarne