Roads Minister Conor Murphy has lauded the progress of a £5.4m investment scheme in Ballymena.

Mr Murphy told Ballymena Council the £1.8m realignment and bridge widening scheme at Tullygarley Road between Rosses Roundabout and Dan’s Road is nearing completion.

He said the scheme will also provide improvements to footway and cycle links along with bus stop lay-bys.

Councillors also heard that the £7 million extension of the M2 beneath the Larne Road Roundabout is planned to start in the spring of 2009.

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Mr Murphy highlighted other schemes which have already been completed this financial year, include the upgrading of the Town Centre multi-storey car park.

He said this had improved security, and also received floor and roof surface treatment to address minor structural issues as well as applying decorative finishes.

"A scheme under the 'Safer Routes to Schools Project' has also been completed at Gracehill Primary School. This involved widening existing footways to provide a shared use footway/cycleway, installing a new pedestrian crossing at Gracehill and upgrading the existing crossing at Galgorm," added the Minister.

Road Service's Principal Engineer Uel Wilson welcomed the continued investment in local transport and safety measures in the Ballymena Council area.

(PR/JM)