Lisburn is really getting on the road with news of the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £5.1million spend in the Lisburn area this year.

Stormont Transport Minister 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."

Mr Murphy said: "Proposals to link the M1 motorway with the A1 are being developed and should improve traffic flow, deliver improved journey times and reduce congestion in the Sprucefield area.

"Planned commercial development will be recognised within a range of options currently being formulated. Once complete, these will be open to public scrutiny with the favoured option subject to the normal statutory processes."

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The Department's Investment Delivery Plan for Roads indicates an estimated scheme delivery date between 2014 and 2018, subject to the availability of funding.

The Minister said: "Further road safety improvements have also been delivered in the City.

"The completed schemes include widening of Wilmar Road to four lanes to tie into the North Lisburn Feeder Road and replacement of a roundabout with a signalised junction; provision of high friction surfacing and signage at three sites along the Hillhall Road and extension of the Safer Routes to School programme to include McKinney Primary and Dunmurry High School."

Also commenting, Ken Hutton, Divisional Roads Manager, 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 over 18km of carriageway resurfacing and 5km of footway resurfacing completed in 2009/10. This includes combined schemes at Killowen Park, Skyline Drive and Grand Street."

Also commenting on work proposed for the current financial year, Mr Hutton said: "Schemes currently 'on site' cover a diverse works programme ranging from signalised junction provision at Main Street/Meeting Street, Moira to enhanced pedestrian measures at Smithfield Street and asphalt resurfacing at Mercer Street/Hillhall Road."

(BMcC/KMcA)