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Northern Ireland Office;Northern Ireland Roads Service

Answer

Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Government have to improve (a) the Portaferry Road between Newtownards and Portaferry over the next two years and (b) traffic management in Newtownards to alleviate traffic congestion at peak times. [222123] Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the right hon. Gentleman in response to this question. Letter from Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. David Trimble, dated 16 March 2005: You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question asking what plans the Government has to improve (a) the Portaferry Road between Newtownards and Portaferry over the next two years and (b) traffic management in Newtownards to alleviate traffic congestion at peak times (222123). I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service. I am pleased to be able to advise you that we are planning an improvement scheme during the 2005/6 financial year, costing approximately £30,000 along the A20 Portaferry to Newtownards road at the Rowreagh Road/Gransha Road junction, subject to agreement on land acquisition. We are also starting work shortly on the reconstruction of Main Street, Kircubbin, from the junction with Blackhall Street to the junction with Roden Street, at an estimated cost of £300,000. Unfortunately, a scheme to resurface approximately one kilometre of the stretch of Rowreagh Road south of Loughdoo Road to Abbacy Road at a cost of approximately £120,000 has been postponed due to an impending major works scheme by Water Service. With regard to traffic management schemes planned for Newtownards, you will be aware a number of road improvement schemes have been identified in the Draft Ards/Down Area Plan. I understand the Public Inquiry for the Plan is due to commence in early May. The schemes identified in the Area Plan include the: Bowtown Road link--from Portaferry Road to Bowtown Road; Southern Relief Road--from Portaferry Road to Scrabo Road via the Comber Road; Frederick Street Link--from Nursery Road to Frederick Street Roundabout; and Talbot Street/North Road upgrade--improvements to junction layout. In addition, the construction of the Bowtown Road link extension to the Donaghadee Road via the Movilla Road, to the east of Newtownards, has been identified to be undertaken with the proposed development to the east of the town. All of these schemes will contribute significantly to the improvement of traffic movements in the town of Newtownards, although no definite timescale can be given for the delivery of most of these schemes at this time. It is likely that the proposed Southern Relief Road, which will greatly benefit traffic movement in the area, may well be provided over the next two years. Planning permission has already been granted for a section of this road and work is currently ongoing to progress the Direction Order on the remainder of the scheme. The Zion Place roundabouts on the Bangor Road have also been identified within the Draft Ards/Down Area Plan as requiring improvements and modelling work is ongoing for this junction. As the provision of the Southern Relief Road will alter the traffic movements at the New Road/Portaferry Road junction, this site is also being examined. Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to be precise on when these junctions may be improved as any proposed schemes will be dependant on the findings of the Area Plan Public Inquiry. I hope this information is helpful.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c442-3W;432 c440-1W; 222123

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Northern Ireland Road traffic Roads Repairs and maintenance Road traffic control

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk