Contractor FP McCann has been appointed to deliver a Public Realm Improvement Scheme in Castle Street/Bridge Street, Ballymena.

The scheme is being funded by the Department for Communities.

It will see the upgrade of Bridge Street, opposite the Braid, and Castle Street, from Church Street to the junction with Meeting House Lane, with granite paving and kerbing, new lighting and carriageway resurfacing.

Paving will also be extended at the roundabout on Castle Street and across the front entrance at St Patrick's Church, to the junctions with Trostan Avenue and Meeting House Lane, providing a consistent and high-quality finish of paving throughout the town centre.

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It is planned that the Public Realm Works will be phased, commencing on Bridge Street, followed by the lower town centre end of Castle Street, before continuing to the top end of Castle Street towards St Patrick’s Church.

It is expected that enabling works by Open Reach (BT) will take place at the top of Castle Street, near St Patrick’s Church, week commencing 24 July. The Public Realm Works are planned to commence on Monday 07 August, after scheduled NIE works have concluded, with the last phased section planned to be completed by late November 2023.

For the duration of the works on Castle Street, traffic will be restricted to a single lane, with a one-way system in place from Meeting House Lane to Bridge Street, enabling continued vehicle access to business, public and private car parks.

Businesses along Castle Street and Bridge Street will be open as normal throughout the works and pedestrian access to homes and businesses in the area will be maintained at all times.