A stalled Co Antrim road redevelopment plan has been discussed at Stormont - with indications that the new Ulster Unionist Regional Development Minister might favour a re-think.

The East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson delivered his maiden speech in the Assembly by saying how vitally important that the proposed upgrading of the A2 road goes ahead.

Stewart Dickson MLA said: "This is a very important route for people in East Antrim and for business in the area."

Commenting on the bottleneck carriageway that runs between Carrickfergus and Belfast, he said: "It is vital that the Minister for Regional Development moves forward with plans for the upgrade of this road.

"Almost every day there is gridlock on this road and it is essential for people in the area, for business, commerce and tourism that it is upgraded to meet the demand on this route. This is the number one issue for businesses and traders in the area.

"The dualling of this route is absolutely essential. For too long Carrickfergus has been left somewhat isolated from our main city, Belfast, and this must change through the delivery of progress on this project," he concluded.

Earlier this year, the project was abruptly shelved, despite the Roads Service having already spent £16m on it, with the Alliance party calling on the then Sinn Fein Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy to reconsider his decision to postpone the A2 Shore Road upgrade for four years.

"The Department for Regional Development should give the go-ahead for the A2 upgrade bearing in mind all the money that has already been spent on it," said the previous MLA, Sean Neeson.

"We have been campaigning on this issue for over 20 years, we cannot wait another four years for this vital road scheme," he said at the time.

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U-Turn On Route

Now, it looks like the current Stormont Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, may be about to look again at plans for the separate western corridor development - the contentious A5 cross-border road scheme - and to look afresh at the postponement of the A2 upgrade as a consequence.

"I will be looking closely at the level of proposed investment on roads such as the A5," said the newly appointed Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Stormont Executive member.

He said that his emphasis would be on backing sustainable transport and improved road and water infrastructure to support economic growth and social wellbeing.

The Minister said: "Planning for the long term development of the region is important to everyone living in Northern Ireland.

"It is, therefore, essential that we bring forward strategies that support the economy, the environment and help address the needs of the individual."

While he said he would look afresh at this specific cross-border project, his comments did underline that the construction sector is in for a fillip anyway: "I have already referred to the importance of improving the strategic road network," he said.

The UUP Minister Danny Kennedy's views echo that of Tom Elliott, UUP Leader who was more specific when he stated before the May elections: "Having examined the case for widening the A2 at Greenisland and viewed the level of congestion myself from the 30,000 vehicles per day, I understand why this road needs widened.

"I would fully support the view that funding should be re-assigned to the A2 to remove the miles of tail-backs on the Carrickfergus to Belfast Road.

"Roads improvements should be carefully prioritised on congestion and economic grounds rather than on political grounds as it appears in the case of the A5.

"The Ulster Unionist Party is supportive of prioritizing the A2 road widening scheme."

A short section of the A2 at the Whiteabbey end and a section near Carrickfergus are already dual carriageway, while most of the rest is four-lane single-carriageway.

The exception is the short section through Shore Road, Greenisland which is two-lane single carriageway creating a serious bottleneck that causes delays for the 26,000 vehicles per day north of Greenisland and 35,000 south of Greenisland.

The proposed new road would be built to dual-carriageway standard with two lanes each way and include four roundabouts, with, at all other junctions, drivers required to turn left only and use the next roundabout along to turn round if they wished to turn right.

The favoured option of several suggested is the combined one that would see widening of the Belfast end of the existing road, and the building of a new road inland for the part of the route from Station Road to Seapark.

Heading north from Station Road the scheme will veer off the existing Shore Road and a new 'offline' section of road will be constructed to Seapark Junction.

There will be no direct access to the new section of road and, as a result a bridge at Whinfield Lane will be constructed to connect the land either side of the new dual carriageway.

Pedestrians and cyclists will continue to use the bypassed section of the existing Shore

Road.

Meanwhile, Carrickfergus Council also launched a petition calling for the road widening between Seapark and Jordanstown to be given a high priority earlier this year.

See: Stormont Minister Signals A5 Slow-down

(BMcC/GK)