All roads lead to Larne... (2)

(Continued from previous post)

These two road upgrades are most welcome for the East Antrim area. The A8 improvements will directly benefit Larne Town in many ways: improved journey between Belfast and Port of Larne, better infrastructure for local businesses, especially those with Heavy Goods Vehicles, improved journey times for commuters - all making Larne a more attractive destination.

This is very important for future economic development in the Larne Borough. Potential investors will welcome the increased connectivity between Larne and Belfast, business through the Port of Larne - the second largest in NI - will be strengthened, and Larne's position as a Regional Hub within Northern Ireland is further highlighted.

Meanwhile, Carrickfergus should be equally pleased with the news of the A2 bottleneck at Greenisland, which will have similar benefits for that Town as those stated above for Larne. However, the A2 development will also benefit the Borough of Larne (hence the title!). For residents in the south of the Borough, including Magheramorne, Ballycarry and Islandmagee, the quickest way to Belfast is often through Carrickfergus.

I speak with personal experience: travelling to Belfast in the morning, I have often sat in the traffic at the bottleneck (sometimes waiting more than 1 hour to get from Trooperslane to Jordanstown) and then taken the A8 back to Larne Town in the afternoon, with very few options to safely overtake slower-moving traffic heading to the Ferry. I wholeheartedly welcome both of these projects, and look forward to their speedy completion.

Meanwhile, off the roads... the Larne Line Passenger Group continues to press Translink on their Larne Line service - I look forward to meetings with DRD and Translink officials over the coming weeks, and continuing to support the LLPG at their public meeting in Larne's McNeil Theatre on TUESDAY 6TH MARCH!

All roads lead to Larne... (1)

Some exciting news this morning from the Department of Regional Development.

Ulster Unionist Party colleague and Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has secured almost £500million investment in road infrastructure, balanced across Northern Ireland, with the potential to create an estimated 2,500 jobs over four years.

Included in the planned works are the A8 Belfast to Larne project and a scheme to dual the A2 Shore Road at Greenisland.

The Minister said: “This investment will provide a significant boost to the local economy and help to encourage inward investment. It will provide job security for many and create, much needed, jobs in the construction industry, across environmental and engineering consultancies, suppliers, contractors, infrastructure specialists and others. It will also offer opportunities for the long-term unemployed, apprentices and students.

“In the longer term it will serve as a catalyst for wider economic growth. If we want Northern Ireland to prosper we have to construct the infrastructure to enable us to compete effectively.”

The A8 is one of five key transport corridors indentified in the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland. These improvements will dual key transport corridors, improve road safety and reduce journey times.

The Minister said: “The improvements to the A8, between Ballyclare and Larne, will complete a minimum of dual carriageway standard on the Eastern Seaboard corridor, reducing journey times, improving safety and supporting the continued development of the Port of Larne, Northern Ireland's second largest port."

“The A2 project will widen 2.4km of the single carriageway, between Jordanstown and Seapark, and improve safety for pedestrians with the provision of new footpaths. Identified in the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan, the new dual carriageway will alleviate congestion for the 35,000 motorists who travel between East Antrim and Belfast every day.”

Danny Kennedy added: “Subject to the outcome of the public inquiries that were held last summer, construction work may begin on the A8 as early as this spring, with the A5 works starting in early autumn. A procurement competition will be initiated for the A2 Shore Road project, which should see work commencing early in 2013.

Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim said, “These two major projects will benefit local quarries and create and sustain construction jobs.  In addition, the improved roads network to Larne and Carrickfergus from Belfast will make East Antrim more attractive as a location for further private sector investment and jobs.”

A8 Belfast to Larne:

· The A8 project will complete the dualling of the Eastern Seaboard Corridor between Larne and Dublin (Approximately 14km).

· After publication of Draft Statutory Orders and the Environmental Statement in January 2011 a public inquiry was held in June 2011. The inspector’s report has been received and is being considered.

· The A8, subject to the outcome of the public inquiry, could commence on the ground in April/May 2012.

· The exact cost of this scheme will not be established until the outcome of the public inquiry process is known. However it is anticipated that the overall cost of the A8 project will be in the £110 million - £120 million range.

· The appointed contractor is Lagan/Ferrovial/Costain.

A2 Shore Road, Greenisland:

· This scheme will widen the 2.5 kilometre section of single carriageway on the A2 at Greenisland, between Jordanstown and Seapark, to 4 lanes.

· A Public Inquiry was held in October 2007 with the Inspector’s Report into the Public Inquiry published in September 2008. On consideration of the Inspector’s recommendations, my Department published the Direction Order and the Notice of Intention to Proceed in October 2008.

· This scheme is ready to proceed to procurement straight away.

· The A2, subject to a successful procurement process, could commence construction early in 2013.

· The overall cost of the A2 project will be in the £50 million - £60 million range.

· Contractor yet to be appointed.

Anchor Post

Just a short post here to make readers aware that my blog has been down for a while. I have some past stories and photos to put up from the past few months. To keep up to date, I will also be posting current news and information. Looking forward to engaging again with residents of Larne Borough through this blog...