Members of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have been briefed by the Department for Infrastructure on planned road maintenance and improvement works for 2025/26 and 2026/27 at a meeting on Tuesday 3 November.

Alan Keys, Divisional Roads Manager, told councillors: "For planning purposes, an opening indicative allocation for structural maintenance of approximately £98 million is being provided, which is approximately £30 million higher than the opening allocation in the previous year. From this allocation the Department has targeted approximately £12.5 million towards a Roads Recovery Fund of which £10 million is for rural roads maintenance that is double the size of last year's allocation. This funding will enable the delivery of the highest priority resurfacing, roadside stability and drainage projects.

"To help prioritise, on Monday 26 October the Department published Transport Strategy 2035 which sets out a long-term vision and strategic framework for the region. The strategy aims to support economic growth, strengthen regional balance, and enhance connectivity, while promoting a more sustainable transport system. It brings together key transport policy objectives within a single overarching framework, providing greater clarity on the context for the Department's decisions and the actions required across government to support delivery of these strategic outcomes.

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"In parallel, Local Transport Plans are being developed alongside councils' Local Development Plans to ensure a more integrated approach to transport and land use planning.

"Road safety also remains a high priority for the Department, and we are committed to working proactively to make our roads safer and address the needs of all road users."

Mr Keys continued: "Last year, we completed key resurfacing works on Glenshane Road, Dungiven, Dunhill Road Coleraine, Frosses Road, Ballymoney and Drones Road, Armoy. Other projects, including shared footway/cycleways on the A2 Clooney Road between Ballykelly and Greysteel, and Atlantic Road, Coleraine, have also been successfully completed.

"Looking ahead to 2026/27, we are planning additional resurfacing schemes across the borough, with projects at Seacoast Road and Greystone Road, Limavady, Legavallon Road, Dungiven, Garron Road, Waterfoot and Kirk Road Ballymoney. We're also advancing several significant Active Travel improvement initiatives throughout the Causeway Coast and Glens area. Among these is the provision of shared use paths on the Foreglen Road, Dungiven."

In closing, Mr Keys said: "These projects will deliver significant benefits to both the local community and commuters in Causeway Coast and Glens."