Members of the Ards and North Down Borough Council received an
update from the Department for Infrastructure regarding road
maintenance and improvement works in the council area for the
years 2025/26 and 2026/27.
During a meeting on Tuesday 10 November, Divisional Roads Manager
Cindy Noble addressed the council, stating,
For planning purposes, an opening indicative allocation for
structural maintenance of approximately £98 million is being
provided, which is approximately £30 million higher than the
opening allocation in the previous year. From this allocation the
Department has targeted approximately £12.5 million towards a
Roads Recovery Fund. This funding will enable the delivery
of the highest priority resurfacing, roadside stability and
drainage projects. And the funding for Rural Roads maintenance in
2026/27, at £10 million, is double the size of last year's
allocation.
"To help prioritise, the Department has developed a Transport
Strategy 2035, which sets out a long-term vision and strategic
framework for the region. The strategy aims 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."
Ms Noble continued:
Last year, key resurfacing works were completed on Deerpark Road
in Portaferry, Portaferry Road in Newtownards and Killinchy Road
in Comber. A new two-stage staggered puffin crossing was also
installed on East Circular Road in Bangor near St Columbanus
College, significantly improving pedestrian safety on this busy
A-class road. Further improvements included upgrading the
pedestrian crossing on Donaghadee Road in Newtownards to a puffin
crossing and the completion of road safety works at Whinney Hill
in Craigantlet.
Continuing Ms Noble said,
Looking ahead to 2026/27, a carriageway resurfacing scheme
has recently been completed on Ballywalter Road, Millisle. We are
also planning additional resurfacing schemes across the borough
including Clandeboye Road, Bangor, High Street, Donaghadee
and Belvedere Road, Newtownards . Pedestrian enhancements
are also progressing with the provision of an uncontrolled
crossing to improve pedestrian safety at Main Road, Cloughey,
along with several footway resurfacing schemes in the Ards and
North Down area at sites such as High Street in Donaghadee and
Belvedere Road in Newtownards."
Further plans include the installation of segregated / shared
pedestrian and cycle corridor at Green Road, Bangor as well
as a signalised junction upgrade on the Belfast Road /
Ballysallagh Road in Bangor.
In closing, Ms Noble said;
These projects the Department is delivering will bring
significant benefits to both the local community and commuters in
the Ards and North Down area."
