DUP South Down candidate Jim Wells has demanded urgent answers from Transport Northern Ireland regarding the closure of the main Rostrevor to Warrenpoint Road.
He said: “The closure of this extremely important road has caused huge disruption to the South Down community. Local residents have contacted me to raise several very important questions about how this whole issue has been dealt with.
“It is very difficult to understand why more notice was not given for this major road closure. Transport Northern Ireland must have been aware of the structural problems of this road for many weeks, yet the local community was given less than two days warning of the closure.
“I understand that the road is due to be reopened on May 6th. Given the time frame of the road works, the usual traffic volume on the road and the length of the diversion thousands upon thousands of miles will be added to the commute of many South Down drivers.
“Residents were led to believe by Transport Northern Ireland that the contractors would work evenings and Saturdays. This is clearly not the case as no workers were present last Saturday and work has finished at 5pm each night. Obviously if the work was carried out as promised then the repairs would be completed sooner saving much aggravation and inconvenience for the residents of Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and further afield.
“Local businesses are asking the important question why no consideration was given to keeping one lane of traffic open for a traffic light system to be operated. This would solve the problem of the long detour.”
Mr Wella added: “Finally, the residents of Rath Road have faced chaotic scenes as they find their narrow road used by HGVs avoiding the Mayobridge detour.”
