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Members of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have been briefed on upcoming road maintenance and improvement works across the district, with the Department for Infrastructure outlining plans for 2024/25 and 2025/26. The update, delivered at a special council meeting yesterday 29 September by Divisional Roads Manager Cindy Noble, detailed increased budgets and a range of projects aimed at improving road safety and infrastructure throughout the area. No mention was made of the Southern Relief Road project.
The Department for Infrastructure has seen its budget increase significantly, with the 2025-26 Resource Budget standing at £637.1 million, up £77.6 million from the previous year's opening budget. The Capital Budget has also risen to £917 million, an increase of £63.4 million. However, Noble acknowledged that whilst these increases are welcome after years of historic underfunding, they still don't fully meet the department's requirements.
Speaking at the meeting, Ms Noble said: "The Department's Final 2025-26 Resource Budget is £637.1m, representing an increase of £77.6m from the 2024-25 opening budget. The Department has been historically underfunded for many years, so this is a welcome increase in the Department's resource budget allocation. However, this does not fully meet the requirements of the Department and therefore decisions on prioritising the budget have been made."
She added: "The opening capital budget for structural maintenance stands at £68 million which falls significantly short of our funding requirements. This will allow the delivery of our highest priority resurfacing projects, roadside stability, and drainage projects. The Department has operated within a constrained resource budget for many years and to help address historic underfunding additional funding has been allocated to essential maintenance and enhancing signs and lining and builds upon the existing level of service."
Noble highlighted recent completed works in the district including the traffic signal upgrade at Drumalane in Newry and resurfacing works in Kilcoo, Strangford, Ballynahinch and Kilkeel. A section of Hill Street in Newry was another area to benefit from resurfacing in 2025.
Looking to the year ahead, Noble outlined several major projects planned for the year ahead. She said: "Looking ahead to 2025/26, we are planning additional resurfacing schemes across the district, with projects on Ardmore Road in Newry, Ballynahinch Road in Crossgar and Cullaville Road in Crossmaglen. We're also advancing several significant pedestrian improvement initiatives throughout Newry, Mourne and Down. Among these is a major upgrade to the traffic signal junction at Belfast Road / Main Street / Todds Hill in Saintfield. This project will introduce MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) technology, which will optimise traffic flow and greatly enhance pedestrian safety and access."
Pedestrian safety improvements will also feature prominently in the coming year's work programme. Noble explained: "Further plans include new pedestrian-friendly upgrades, such as installing a puffin crossing at Dromore Road in Ballynahinch and a comprehensive puffin crossing upgrade at Monaghan Street in Newry."
Road safety around schools remains a priority, with the department extending part-time 20mph zones to another 40 schools in 2025. This will bring the total number of such schemes implemented since 2020/21 to 273. Noble confirmed that five of these new schemes are earmarked for the Newry, Mourne and Down area. She said: "This important initiative aims to make journeys to and from school safer for children, parents, and staff, and demonstrates our dedication to safer routes and stronger communities across the region."
In closing, Ms Noble said: "These projects will deliver significant benefits to both the local community and commuters in Newry Mourne and Down." Despite the ongoing budget constraints, the Department for Infrastructure say they remain committed to delivering local transport improvements, safety schemes and maintenance initiatives designed to enhance road safety across the district.
