Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced that a Northern Ireland Executive funded £205,000 improvement scheme at Coach Road/Deerpark Road, Portaferry is set to begin on Thursday 25 February.
The resurfacing scheme is expected to be substantially completed by the end of March.
Ards and North Down Councillor Joe Boyle has welcomed the proposed resurfacing scheme and said: “For Years I have been campaigning for more resurfacing on what is effectively the A20 Portaferry to Newtownards road, as this is not only the main route for motorists, but is equally the main tourism drive for the many thousands of tourists who set out on Destination Portaferry.’
“My efforts on lobbying the previously known Roads Service, now Transport NI, during the past ten years has produced a 14-mile resurfacing of the entire 20 mile distance. It is, however, important to continue to lobby to have the entire distance resurfaced.
“It is extremely important to the local economy that tourists, visitors and the local community have a good well surfaced road to avail of. Having had the Portaferry Hotel recently re-opened and further confirmation of the soon to be reopening of the Exploris Aquarium, we must ensure that the many visitors to the Portaferry and general location can do so with the safe knowledge of not ending up with expensive repair bills for alloy wheels or tyres to their vehicles due to the poor standard of these roads.
“The road is expected to be closed for four weeks from the 25 February until the 24 March between the hours of 9.30am until 4.30pm. I would place on record my appreciation to Ards Section Engineer Stanley Lamb for his ongoing commitment to spreading limited budget resources to the area as well as his noticeably greater urgency with the repairs to the many pot holes currently throughout the Council Borough area and in particular within the Ards Peninsula on many of our more notable minor rural roads.”
Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “This scheme will greatly improve the strength, shape, drainage and surface quality of the carriageway and footway on over a three quarters of a mile (1,420 metres) section of this important A Class road between Portaferry and Kircubbin.”
To help ensure the safety of road users and contractors it will be necessary to operate temporary traffic signals and a road closure during the course of the improvements.
Local access will be maintained and all diversions and restrictions will be clearly signposted.
As with all improvement schemes of this type, severe weather may impact on the planned dates. Transport NI will keep the public informed of any change.
Drivers should expect some delays and are advised to leave additional time when travelling in the area.
For information about this and other improvement schemes across Northern Ireland visit:
