Department allocates £98m for Causeway Coast and Glens Council
New projects will deliver significant benefits to both the local community and commuters in Causeway Coast and Glens, according to Divisional Road Manager Alan Keys.
AN “opening indicative allocation” of approximately £98m is being allotted to the Causeway Coast and Glens Council for structural maintenance, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed.
Members of council received the news following a meeting on Tuesday 3 November, where Divisional Road Manager Alan Keys addressed the council.
The new figure is approximately £30 million higher than the opening allocation in the previous year, according to Mr Keys.
From this allocation, the Department has outlined around £12.5 millions towards a Roads Recovery Fund, of which £10 million is to be used for rural roads maintenance.
This is double last year’s allocation.
Mr Keys said the funding will “enable the delivery of the highest priority resurfacing, roadside stability and drainage projects.”
Last year, key resurfacing works were completed on the Glenshane Road (Dungiven), Dunhill Road (Coleraine), Frosses Road (Ballymoney) and the Drones Road (Armoy).
Shared footway/cycleways on the A2 Clooney Road between Ballykelly and Greysteel, and the Atlantic Road in Coleraine were also successfully completed.
To prioritise future works, on Monday 26 October DfI published Transport Strategy 2035, which outlines a “long-term vision and strategic framework for the region.”
Mr Keys added that the strategy’s aims are 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.
“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.”
Looking ahead, the Department are planning additional resurfacing schemes across the borough, with projects at the following locations:
Several Active Travel improvement initiatives will be advanced, including the provision of shared use paths on the Foreglen Road, Dungiven.
“These projects will deliver significant benefits to both the local community and commuters in Causeway Coast and Glens,” Mr Keys concluded.