Members of Ards and North Down Borough Council have received a briefing from the Department for Infrastructure on road maintenance and improvement programmes scheduled across the borough for 2025/26 and 2026/27.

At a meeting on Tuesday 10 November, Divisional Roads Manager Cindy Noble addressed councillors, stating: "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. This funding will enable the delivery of the highest priority resurfacing, roadside stability and drainage projects. And the funding for Rural Roads maintenance in 2026/27, at £10 million, is double the size of last year's allocation.

"To help prioritise, the Department has developed a 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."

Ms Noble set out recent activity, noting upgrades completed in the past year. She continued: "Last year, key resurfacing works were completed on Deerpark Road in Portaferry, Portaferry Road in Newtownards and Killinchy Road in Comber. A new two-stage staggered puffin crossing was also installed on East Circular Road in Bangor near St Columbanus College, significantly improving pedestrian safety on this busy A-class road. Further improvements included upgrading the pedestrian crossing on Donaghadee Road in Newtownards to a puffin crossing and the completion of road safety works at Whinney Hill in Craigantlet."

Looking ahead, the Divisional Roads Manager outlined upcoming priorities. Continuing, Ms Noble said, "Looking ahead to 2026/27, a carriageway resurfacing scheme has recently been completed on Ballywalter Road, Millisle. We are also planning additional resurfacing schemes across the borough including Clandeboye Road, Bangor, High Street, Donaghadee and Belvedere Road, Newtownards . Pedestrian enhancements are also progressing with the provision of an uncontrolled crossing to improve pedestrian safety at Main Road, Cloughey, along with several footway resurfacing schemes in the Ards and North Down area at sites such as High Street in Donaghadee and Belvedere Road in Newtownards."

She added: "Further plans include the installation of segregated / shared pedestrian and cycle corridor at Green Road, Bangor as well as a signalised junction upgrade on the Belfast Road / Ballysallagh Road in Bangor."

In conclusion, Ms Noble said; "These projects the Department is delivering will bring significant benefits to both the local community and commuters in the Ards and North Down area."