£50m dual carriageway opens in Northern Ireland

Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen has officially opened the Northern Ireland Executive and EU funded £50 million A2 Shore Road Greenisland dual carriageway.

The A2 is a vital link in the strategic road network between Belfast and Carrickfergus carrying on average around 35,000 vehicles each day. The scheme widened approximately one and a quarter miles (1.9 kilometres) of the A2 Shore Road between Jordanstown Road and Station Road, upgrading the section of road to an urban dual carriageway. An entirely new dual carriageway of approximately one mile (1.6 kilometres) was built between Station Road and Seapark. Four roundabouts connect the new section of road to the existing road network.

Mrs McIlveen said: “The construction of the new dual carriageway represents a significant investment in our road network. It also resolves the problem of a major bottleneck for peak-time traffic travelling between Belfast and Carrickfergus and drivers are now benefiting from reduced journey times.”

County Down based Graham Construction were lead contractors in the project.

The Minister added: “This investment generated well over half a million working hours for our local workforce.

“In addition to delivering this scheme on time and within budget Graham Construction exceeded the requirements of the social clauses in the contract for engaging young people and long term unemployed.”

Construction of the scheme began in March 2013 and the new dual carriageway became fully operational in September this year.