Northern Ireland Roads Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed progress on the new Belfast/Larne dual carriageway.

A preferred route for the scheme was announced in August. Procurement is now said to be well advanced with draft orders expected to be published in mid-2011.

Mr Murphy said the project would bolster economic growth of the region, including the Port of Larne.

Outlining Roads Service's currently £2.5m investment in the borough, Minister Murphy welcomed the completion of 4.8km of carriageway resurfacing, costing £700,000.

-- Advertisement --

This work included 1.2km of resurfacing on the A8 Larne Road, 1.5km on the B100 Ballyrickard Road and 500m on the A2 Harbour Road, Carnlough.

"Also completed this year is a £26,000 scheme at the B90 Bridgend Road/UR67 Forthill Road junction, which involved increasing the junction radius and improving the visibility to the right for vehicles emerging from Forthill Road onto Bridgend Road," said the Minister.

Roads Service Principal Engineer, Terry Fulton said Other works planned this financial year include junction visibility proposals at the junctions of the UR130 Grace Avenue with the A2 Coast Road, and the C73 Browndod Road with the U52 Uppertown Road.

(PR/BMcc)