A8 Belfast to Larne Dualling
More Information
Indicative visualisations of the proposed A8 dual carriageway
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- Scheme Update (last updated 20 April 2010)
- Background
- Scheme proposals
- Scheme documents
- Public Events
Scheme Update (last updated 20 April 2010)
April 2010
Following concerns raised by a number of landowners regarding the location of the proposed dual carriageway in the vicinity of Ballynure, Roads Service decided to carry out a review of the Stage 1 Assessment (Corridor Options Study). The review has now been completed and confirmed the findings of the Stage 1 Scheme Assessment Report, that the best performing option (bypassing Ballynure to the west) had been taken forward as the Preferred Route.
To download the findings of this review (listed under Stage 1 Assessment Report Addendum) click here 
or to view the Executive Summary click here (27kb) 
February 2010
On the 26 January 2010 Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy announced that the contract for the A8 Dualling project has been awarded to the consortium Lagan / Ferrovial / Costain. (view press release here)
The latest round of one to one meetings with directly affected landowners commenced in October 2009 and is almost complete. Any views expressed are being considered and were appropriate being incorporated into the design. If you feel that you should have been contacted or wish to arrange a meeting to discuss the scheme, please call John McGill on 02890 890900.
A number of landowners have expressed their concern about the location of the proposed dual carriageway in the vicinity of Ballynure. Requests were received by Roads Service to give further consideration to routing the new dual carriageway through Ballynure. As a result a review of the Stage 1 (corridor options study) has been carried out and the findings of it will be published in the coming weeks.
The project team, including the recently appointed contractor team are currently refining the preferred route design, taking account of landowner preferences and buildability issues.
In May 2010 it is planned to carry out a further round of one to one meetings with directly affected landowners to discuss the impacts of the emerging design on their land and property. These discussions will relate primarily to access arrangements and the provision of accommodation works such as laneways, gates and fences.
In the latter part of the summer of 2010 the scheme layout will be published to inform directly affected landowners and the wider public of the developments since the publication of the preferred route in August 2009.
Over the coming weeks and months there will be a requirement for further surveys across parts of the scheme. These include geotechnical investigation, environmental surveys and topographical surveys. We appreciate your ongoing co-operation whilst these activities are carried out.
August 2009
On the 5th August 2009 Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy announced (view press release here) the Preferred Route for the A8 Belfast to Larne Dual Carriageway. The new dual carrigeway will bypass Bruslee to the East and bypass Ballynure to the West. A public exhibition event was held at Corr's Corner Hotel, Newtownabbey on the 5th and 6th of August 2009. The event gave the public an opportunity to view the preferred route and speak to the Roads Service team. Close to 800 people took the opportunity to view the information at the exhibition.
Information displayed at this public exhibition event is available to view here.
Background
Roads Service is investigating the dualling of the A8 between the B95 Coleman’s Corner Junction and the B100 Ballyrickard Road Junction. The A8 is a strategically important road within Northern Ireland and is included in the recently published Investment Delivery Plan (IDP) for Roads. This stretch of the A8 currently carries in excess of 17,000 vehicles per day. With traffic levels continuing to grow, traffic congestion will increase and road safety will deteriorate. It is important to the economy of Northern Ireland that the port of Larne is serviced by an efficient road link.
In January 2007, the Irish Government announced their new National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013. This plan contained proposals for considerable Irish Government investment in North/South projects including the Eastern Seaboard Key transport Corridor of which the A8 is part of.
A number of studies were undertaken between 1999 and 2000 which resulted in a series of improvements to the A8. The IDP for Roads has identified the completion of the dualling of the A8 before 2017/18.
Scheme proposals
To consider all available options a scheme assessment is being carried out. This is a three stage procedure, which compares various options based on the government’s five key transport objectives of environment, safety, economy, integration and accessibility. This begins with an examination of broadly defined routes, progressing through the selection of a ‘Preferred Route’ to detailed environmental assessment and design.
The following lists briefly the the assessment progress to-date:
- A Stage 1 ‘Preliminary Options’ assessment of eight viable corridors was carried out. This resulted in two corridors (namely Corridor 1 and Corridor 2) being taken forward to Stage 2. To download the Stage 1 assessment click here.
- A Stage 2 ‘Preferred Route’ assessment involved a more detailed assessment including surveys to identify the key effects and factors to be taken into account when selecting and comparing the two corridor options. This resulted in the selection of a 'Preferred Route' within corridor option 1 progressing to Stage 3 as the ‘Preferred Route’.
- A Stage 3 assessment will now be untertaken. This will involve further design development of the 'Preferred Route'. This stage of assessment requires preparation of an Environmental Statement, production of a Draft Direction Order and Draft Vesting Order (Statutory Procedures).
