27/07/2001

Road maintenance budget receives funding boost

The Department of Regional Development (DRD) Roads Service has welcomed the announcement by the Northern Ireland Executive that an additional £4 million is to be allocated to the roads maintenance budget.

Grahame Fraser, Roads Service Network and Customer Services Director, said: "Roads Service estimate that we need to spend about £86m a year on resurfacing to keep the network in good condition and this has been accepted by the Public Accounts Committee.

"However, in the current year we have only been allocated half that sum, therefore this additional £4 million, which will permit the resurfacing of an additional 70 miles of carriageway, is very welcome."

Mr Fraser said that the Northern Ireland road network is valued at almost £20 billion, making it the most valuable public asset in Northern Ireland.

"Roads are important to everyone in Northern Ireland whether as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian and, as traffic volumes increase, our roads tend to wear out more quickly. It is essential that the roads network is adequately resourced."

(CL)

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