A number of visibility improvements are to be carried out on rural roads along the Ards peninsula, the Roads Minister has said.

Conor Murphy said a £5.2m investment in the borough over the past year had progressed well.

The major A20 Southern Distributor linking the Portaferry and Comber Roads in Newtownards was officially opened to traffic in July.

Mr Murphy said work was continuing on the spur road into the Castlebawn site, which is expected to be completed by the end of November.

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"The Frederick Street link road was opened to traffic last November and other auxiliary works were completed last December."

Junction improvements have also been carried out on the Mill Street / Circular Road / Scrabo Road junction in Newtownards.

"Major resurfacing schemes have also been completed on the A20 Kempe Stones Road, Newtownards, A20 Portaferry Road, Newtownards and the A2 Ballywalter Road, Ballywhiskin," said the minister.

Southern Division’s Network Development Manager Reynold Nicholson said visibility improvements at the junction of the Moss Road with the Ballykeigle Road, Ballygowan and the introduction of traffic calming measures at Victoria Avenue, Newtownards, were still to be undertaken.

"The financial position for the next two years will depend on decisions made by Executive. However Roads Service is still planning improvement schemes and welcomes comments from Ards Borough Council on its programmes."

(PR/KMcA)