M2 Link: About the Scheme

The scheme will divert strategic north-south traffic using the A26 Antrim to Ballymena Dual Carriageway and the Ballee Road East Dual Carriageway onto a new 2.1 kilometre long dual carriageway underneath the Larne Road Roundabout to join the M2 Ballymena Bypass . Strategic traffic currently circulates around the Larne Road Roundabout where it conflicts with local traffic, resulting in an unacceptably high number of accidents and delays at periods of peak traffic flow. View the Scheme Brochure (282KB)   here.

The Larne Road Roundabout currently joins the Ballee Road East dual carriageway to the M2 Ballymena Bypass and the A36 radial route connecting Ballymena to Larne. This large five-arm roundabout includes two under bridges built to accommodate the now defunct extension of the M2 mototrway towards Antrim. North of the roundabout the Ballymena Bypass is dual 2-lane motorway carrying flows in excess of 25,500 vehicles per day. South west of the roundabout Ballee Road East is a 2-lane all purpose dual carriageway carrying flows in excess of 22,500 vehicles per day. About 15,000 vehicles per day is long distance strategic north-south traffic passing straight through the roundabout. This long distance strategic north-south traffic conflicts with local traffic negotiating the roundabout and results in queues and delays at peak times. The high speed on the large roundabout are a contributory factor in the unacceptably high number of accidents at this junction.

The proposed scheme would lead traffic onto a 2.1 kilometre long dual carriageway allowing the strategic north-south traffic to continue uninterrupted underneath the Larne Road Roundabout. The proposed scheme would:

• Deviate from the existing Ballee Road East dual carriageway east of the Ballee Roundabout.
• Continue underneath the Larne Road Roundabout.
• Connect to the southern end of the M2 Ballymena Bypass.

New merge and diverge slip roads constructed on the south side of the Larne Road Roundabout would provide access to and from the new road. West of the new road, the bypassed part of Ballee Road East wouild retain its connection with the Larne Road Roundabout and would continue to service Pennybridge Industrial Estate. East of the new road, traffic using the Liminary Road from Kells would lead traffic onto a 0.9 kilometre long single carriageway road connecting directly to the Larne Road Roundabout.

Archaeology: discovery of a rare Neolithic ring fort and poor weather during late 2009 and early 2010 has delayed progress. The scheme requires excavation of a cutting through a drumlin with excavated material used to construct embankments elsewhere on the site. This must be completed before the remainder of the road can be built.

During planning of the scheme (before construction began) exploratory trenches were dug where research showed possible archaeology. This trenching did not reveal any archaeology. Because pre-contract exploration revealed no archaeology, it was expected that excavation of the cutting and construction of embankments would have been substantially complete during the reasonably good weather that could be expected during mid June to late October 2009.

Fulfilling its responsibility for mitigation of archaeological impacts arising from construction, Roads Service employed an archaeologist  to monitor stripping of topsoil over the entire site. During this several archaeological ‘hotspots’ were detected:

• further examination of ‘hotspots’ where embankments were to be constructed revealed little of interest.
• further examination of ‘hotspots’ where the cutting was to be excavated uncovered a rare late Neolithic ring fort - one of just four found so far in Ireland. Excavation and resolution of this was carried out by a team of 20 archaeologists during early June to early August 2009. View Archaeology here

Excavation and resolution of the rare Neolithic ring fort meant that excavation of the cutting and construction of embankments started later than anticipated. About 80% of the cutting was excavated before the weather deteriorated. The remainder of the cutting was excavated during two good weeks in March. Remaining road construction will be completed at a fast pace allowing the road to be opened to traffic in summer 2010.