Despite the economic downturn, roads projects are still being constructed.

The NI Transport Minister Conor Murphy has this week welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £1.8million for structural maintenance in the North Down area this year.

The Minister said: "A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year.

"While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services.

"Throughout 2009/10 additional Road Safety improvements have been delivered in the Borough.

"The completed schemes: include street lighting at Sherwood Road/Park/Drive, Ashley Park/Drive/Gardens, Ballyholme Esplanade and Rushfield, Helens Bay; pelican crossing upgrades at Castle Park Road, Clandeboye Road/Church Street and Newtownards Road; and safer routes to schools at Bangor Central Primary and St Columbanus College," he said.

Colin Brown, Principal Engineer, welcomed the continued investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter.

He said: "Road maintenance remains a priority with completed schemes that include: a carriageway and footway resurfacing at Robinson Road, Killeen Avenue and Abbey Park; and drainage works at Clifton Road, Princetown Road, Whinney Hill, Holywood and Bridge Road, Helens Bay."

Commenting on work proposed for the current financial year, Mr Brown said: "Schemes currently 'on site' include collision remedial works at Balloo Road/Bloomfield Road South and safer routes to school programmes at Ballymagee and Rathmore Primaries.

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"Looking forward, new street lighting schemes are planned for Sinclair Road, Henderson Road/Avenue/Drive and Princess Gardens, Holywood.

"In addition, carriageway resurfacing is programmed for Ballyholme Road, Seapark Road, Ballymenoch Park, Holywood and the Bangor bound lane of the A2 between Ballyrobert Road and Ballysallagh Road," he said.

Meanwhile, the roads sector has also been enjoying a fillip in the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £2.1million for structural road maintenance in the Limavady area this year.

Conor Murphy said: "A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year.

"While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services."

The Minister noted the ongoing work to improve the Northern Transport Corridor by the proposed construction of a bypass around Ballykelly village.

He said: "I announced the preferred route for the proposed Ballykelly Bypass in March of this year. Selection of the preferred route is an equitable balance of economic, environmental and social issues when measured against the Government's five key transport criteria; safety, economics, environment, integration and accessibility.

"It is an important milestone in the road project, removing uncertainty about where the road will be built."

Construction of the bypass is expected to start in 2017/18, towards the end of the Investment Strategy funding period.

Improvement schemes completed in 2009/10 included a £183,000 scheme on the B69 Baranailt Road, which involved the replacement of the Drumacarney Bridge, carriageway realignment and the provision of 70 metres of safety barrier on either side of the carriageway, spanning the Bessbrook River.

Schemes which commenced in 2009/10 financial year and are nearing completion include a £300,000 scheme at the junction of the A37 Broad Road and B66 Ringsend Road.

This scheme realigns the bend on the Broad Road, at its junction with Ringsend Road to improve forward sight distance and also provides a right turning lane for traffic on the Broad Road exiting onto the Ringsend Road.

In total, 7.73 kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced at a total cost of £1.28million, the most significant being 1,250 metres of the A2 Main Street, Ballykelly and 1,155 metres of the B69 Baranailt Road between Moneyrandel Road and Drumrane Road.

Jim Campbell, Principal Engineer, welcomed the continued investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter.

He said: "A programme of resurfacing works includes 585 metres of the C570 Greystone Road, Limavady between Scroggy Road Roundabout and Irish Green Street."

(BMcC/GK)