A8 Belfast to Larne Dualling
Background
Roads Service is investigating the dualling of the A8 between the B95 Coleman’s Corner Junction and the B100 Ballyrickard Road Junction. The A8 is a strategically important road within Northern Ireland and is included in the recently published Investment Delivery Plan (IDP) for Roads. This stretch of the A8 currently carries in excess of 18,000 vehicles per day. With traffic levels continuing to grow, traffic congestion will increase and road safety will deteriorate. Currently 50% of Northern Ireland’s containerised cargo and 32% of local tourism traffic moves through the port of Larne. It is important to the economy of Northern Ireland that the port of Larne is serviced by an efficient road link.
In January 2007, the Irish Government announced their new National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013. This plan contained proposals for considerable Irish Government investment in North/South projects including the Eastern Seaboard Key transport Corridor of which the A8 is part of.
A number of studies were undertaken between 1999 and 2000 which resulted in a series of improvements to the A8. The IDP for Roads has identified the completion of the dualling of the A8 before 2017/18.
Progress
The scheme is currently at an early stage in the appraisal and design process. As part of the ongoing development of the scheme a Community Information Day was held on Tuesday 20th May and Wednesday 21st May 2008 to gather views and local knowledge which will be used to inform the scheme assessment process.
Information displayed at the exhibition is available to download below.
May 2008 Public Exhibition Panels
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If you would like to comment or send us your views please write to: Divisional Roads Manager, Northern Division, Divisional headquarters, County hall, Castlerock Road, Coleraine, BT51 3HS or email us at roads.northern@drdni.gov.uk