Shore Road completion delayed until end of month

Following a meeting with contractors Graham Construction on September 2 to discuss traffic delays along the route, Cllr Stewart told the Times that the roadworks would be completed by the end of the month.

He stated: “There were problems with budgets and with difficult sections known as “pinch areas” that need to be done but that people have to drive on. Graham Construction said that their final target date is September 25, they say they have every intention of getting it completed by then if not sooner.”

The elected representative says he recently received several complaints from local residents over delays along the route to Belfast, and that the contractors had made changes to the road layout to improve traffic flow.

“With the schools going back one lady told me it had taken her an hour and 45 minutes to get from Carrick to Belfast. Last Tuesday I left my house at 8am and wasn’t in Belfast until 10am,” he revealed.

“This has been going on for quite a while and people want clarity.”

However, Cllr Stewart believes that the roadworks are “a little big of pain for a big gain.”

“This will be a good thing, it will improve the commute from Belfast to Carrick and will have a long-term positive economic impact,” he said.

A TransportNI spokeswoman stated: “A number of road closures were necessary on the A2 Shore Road during August in order to facilitate final surfacing at the junctions as well as one on Station Road, Greenisland. These took place on Sundays during the month of August when disruption to traffic would be least affected.

“Work is almost complete on this major scheme, although some minor works need to carried out. However, it is expected that the majority of the road will be open to traffic in the coming weeks. The scheme remains on schedule for completion in September.”