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A sum of £59 million has been revealed as the cost for the proposed A2 road upgrade in East Antrim.
These standing costs for the road redevelopment were discussed in a letter from the Ulster Unionist Minister Danny Kennedy - who is responsible for Regional Development - to East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickinson.
According to the letter, so far, £4m has already been spent on consultancy fees and £500,000 has been paid towards advanced geotechnical and archaeological contracts. This leaves the cost of completing the scheme at approximately £54.5m.
Mr Dickson commented that given the high demand for the upgrade and the amount spent already, it is crucial that the A2 upgrade goes ahead quickly.
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.
It was hoped that under the new Regional Development Minster the road redevelopment might get the go ahead- but it is still a waiting game.
Mr Dickinson said: "While this vital upgrade is delayed, A2 users continue to face the daily misery of heavy traffic and a long commute.
"There can be no turning back now. Given the large amount of money spent so far, the Minister must give serious consideration to proceeding with the scheme immediately."
"The difficulties encountered by the proposed upgrade of the A5 support the argument that it is more sensible to prioritise the A2 scheme, which is ready to go as soon as funds are made available" he added.
A delegation of local representatives met with the Minister a few weeks ago including the Mayor of Carrickfergus Alderman Jim McClurg and several council members to discuss the development.
They to reached the same conclusion as Mr Dickinson, that the road must go ahead. They queried whether the funds could be found to commence with the road works but the Minister said he could not comment on anything before 2015.
However, he did say that if the funds were to be made available, the A2 scheme would be first on the list as it's basically ready to go.
Fellow delegate Cllr Andrew Wilson said: "We as public representatives will try to ensure that the A2 is kept on the Minister’s mind and that we are at the top, or as near the top of the waiting list as possible, as and when any funding becomes available."
(LB/CD)
