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The Department for Infrastructure met with Councillors last night to discuss issues within their remit. Potholes, active travel, grass cutting, pedestrian lights and budgets were just some of the issues discussed.
In a query about the Southern Relief Road Cllr Pete Byrne, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council asked about the timeline for the Southern Relief Road.
Cllr Byrne said "I'm not sure you are aware but the Council have written to the Minister on two occasions in order to have somebody from the department and I've secured a meeting from the member of staff at the Department of Infrastructure to come and meet the council to answer questions and concerns over the fixed bridge and it would be really important for us to know and understand those timelines so that we could accelerate that meeting, maybe before the public consultation"
In his reply Mark McPeake, Division Roads Manager, Southern Division said "Yes, as you know Southern Relief Road is part of the Belfast Regional City Deal. As far as we're aware, it hasn't been impacted"
He continued "So as far as we're concerned, we're continuing with the project. Timeline is very much dependent on next stage statutory orders and environmental impact assessment and the consultation, any impact or potential objections that might bring potentially could delay progress of the scheme, etc, etc. So timelines, typically for these type of projects is four or five years.
"That's very much depends on objections (inaudible). I know the Belfast Regional City Deal has timelines in it of 5 to 10 years, but I think from terms of perspective, it is pretty flexible. We can go up to 10 years. But we're keen to get started. The fixed bridge issue is well known, so the decision that we're taking forward with the project, based on a fixed bridge basis and that's primarily driven by (inaudible)
