Water scheme '˜will put huge pressure' on Carrick roads

Work is starting today (Monday) at Station Road and is likely to last six to eight weeks.

Mr Wilson said he has been in contact with Northern Ireland Water “to ensure that whatever closures are put in place they work closely with TransportNI, the schools, businesses and local community to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum”.

A project to install new water mains and update sewers on North Road in Carrickfergus is due to start in early May and run until the end of August.

The DUP man added: “The scheme is approximately half a mile long and will be completed between Prince Andrew Way and the Marshallstown Road junctions.

“This too will require a road closure along a major artery carrying traffic through Carrickfergus and along which there are two large schools.

“It is important that proper information is given out to the public because this work is going to put huge pressure on other roads within Carrickfergus and although some of the work will be carried out during the school holidays, nevertheless, there will be disruption for two months when the schools are continuing to operate.

“Again, I trust that NI Water and Transport NI will ensure that the works are phased in such a way as to minimise disruption and also to avoid huge amounts of traffic being pushed through unsuitable residential streets.”

The schemes are part of a £10.9m investment across Carrick and Belfast, which according to NI Water will improve the quality, reliability and security of the local water.

NI Water says it will do everything to reduce disruption as much as possible and access will be maintained for residents and businesses.