It has been confirmed this week that work to upgrade the road and footpath at Main Street, Ballyclare will run from the first week of January until the end of March.

The Department for Regional Development said the substantial contract follows on from the £670,000 town centre improvement programme around The Square which was unveiled by NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie back in September.

Drivers are being warned to expect delays for a period of around 12 weeks while a one-way system is in place, with traffic being diverted through the Ollardale estate.

A DRD spokesperson explained: "The works will consist of granite resurfacing of the pavement and resurfacing of the carriageway.

"Traffic entering Main Street from the Mill Road end will be diverted via Avondale Drive, Hawthorn Way, Ollardale Park and Doagh Road."

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It is understood that there will be no on-street parking along Main Street Monday to Friday during the period of the works due to health and safety issues, but that the road will be open each Saturday to allow on-street parking as normal.

The contractor will do everything possible to minimise disruption, and according to reports in this week's Newtownabbey Times, traders have been assured that the contractor will work with the local businesses to facilitate deliveries and accommodate them and their customers as much as possible and we hope that will be the case.

DUP Alderman Paul Girvan said that while the works would bring welcome improvements to the town centre, the logistics of the project should be reconsidered.

"The contract needs to be looked at," he said. "The majority of the work should be done at nights so as to limit the disruption to businesses and people living in the town. It's going to be a nightmare for motorists and businesses for several months and there are going to be large vehicles diverted through Ollardale, so I think it needs to be looked at again.

"It's good to see this investment in the town, but the work should be done in such a way as to minimise disruption to the town at large - for both the business community and local residents," the politician commented.

(BMcC/GK)