Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has set out Roads Service's progress on investment totalling £7.3million for road improvement and maintenance schemes in the Ballymena Council area this year.

The Minister said: "A wide range of road improvement and maintenance schemes is planned or already complete in the Ballymena Council area. The autumn round of Council meetings is a timely opportunity for Councils to discuss potential schemes and priorities."

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The Minister welcomed the Executive’s decision to allocate around £8million in 2014/15 for the A26 scheme. The project will involve the provision of seven kilometres of dual carriageway between Glarryford and the A44 Drones Road (the Ballycastle Fork).

"This decision will help to progress the delivery of this long-awaited scheme. I have supported calls for this project to be brought forward and am fully aware of the benefits it will bring to the local economy and the public.

"The next step will be the publication of the Departmental statement which is my consideration of the Inspector's findings into the public inquiry for the scheme."

(CD/IT)