Over £12m is to be invested in Ballymena's road network this year, it has been announced.

Transport Minister Conor Murphy announced the commencement of works to connect the M2 Ballymena Bypass underneath the Larne Road Roundabout to the A26 Ballee Road East dual carriageway.

Contractor FP McCann was awarded the contract to complete the £7m scheme, which should take around 10 months.

The Minister welcomed progress on the A26 Frosses Road dualling scheme between Glarryford Crossroads and Ballycastle Fork.

The preferred route was announced in August 2008 and the environmental, planning and land acquisition statutory procedures are being programmed for preparation and publication during the 2010/2011 financial year.

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Road Service’s Principal Engineer, Uel Wilson, highlighted the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Ballymena area.

"Schemes which will be taken forward in the Ballymena Borough Council area this year include junction visibility splay improvements at B18 Whiteside Road/C48 Slaght Road and A36 Moorfields Road/C42 Speerstown Road; footway provision on the UR112 Woodside Road from Omco Industrial Estate to the GAA playing fields.

He continued: "Completion of the upgrading of the Town Centre multi-storey car park; traffic calming measures in Martinstown to reduce vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian safety, and collision remedial measures at Teeshan Interchange in the form of improvements to signage and road markings aimed at improving driver behaviour throughout this busy junction."

(PR/JM)