A total of £6.3million is being spent on roads infrastructure in the Down District Council area this year.

NI Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed Roads Service's progress on their investment and said: "Design development is continuing on the A24 Ballynahinch Bypass in which Roads Service will be bringing forward proposals which will lead to the selection of a preferred route within the next few weeks."

Speaking ahead of this evening's meeting between Roads Service and Down District Council, the Minister continued: "In addition a major and complex resurfacing scheme has been completed on the busy A24 Church Road Ballynahinch.

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"It comprised of 600 metres of carriageway resurfacing between the junction of

Church Road/Carlisle Park and the new technical college.

"The scheme also included improvements to the drainage system and adjacent footway," said Mr Murphy.

He also said that a number of traffic calming measures and safety related schemes have been introduced on streets within the Down District.

"These measures were delivered in mainly residential areas as well as at schools on the Shimna Road, Newcastle, Downpatrick Road, Ardglass and Strangford Road, Dunsford," he noted.

Acting Divisional Roads Manager Bertie Ellison said: "Other works that are programmed to commence this financial year include junction improvements to Magheralone Road, Annacloy and road widening with improved sightlines at the Vianstown Road / Bonecastle Road junction, Downpatrick.

"The financial position for the next two years will depend on decisions made by Executive. However Roads Service is still planning improvement schemes and welcome comments from Council on its programmes,'' added Mr Ellison.

(BMcC/GK)