AQW 7295/22-27


Mr Eóin Tennyson
Alliance Party
Upper Bann


Tabled Date: 22/02/2024
Answered On Date: 11/03/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what resurfacing schemes will be taken forward in Upper Bann as part of the recent investment announcement.


Answer:
Resurfacing schemes are funded through my Department’s Structural Maintenance Programme; regrettably, for some time the available investment has not kept pace with what is needed to maintain all of our roads in a reasonable condition.
While there are many roads that would benefit from investment, due to limited budget resources, resurfacing work is taken forward through the prioritisation of those deemed most in need for intervention. I am very aware of the long-term underfunding from which our road network has suffered.
As such, I have taken action to begin to address this issue by announcing the immediate investment of an additional £1m in road maintenance to address the growing backlog of pothole repairs and deteriorating road conditions. This much needed funding will be used between now and the end of the financial year to target areas of particular need with small scale resurfacing schemes designed to repair areas that have suffered the most and where localised repairs are less effective along with some larger scale resurfacing projects. However, this is only the beginning of much needed investment in our road infrastructure.
The 2023/24 resurfacing programme for the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area was presented to Council members in October 2023 and can be found at https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/infrastructure/annual-council-report-armagh-banbridge-craigavon-2023.pdf .The resurfacing programme along with other programmes for 2024/25 will be prepared when budgets are confirmed and will be presented to Council in due course.
The importance of a well maintained road network cannot be understated but this requires investment. I will continue to seek the support of Executive colleagues to enable this to happen.
The additional £8.1m funding for my Department’s Structural Maintenance Programme is to deliver additional resurfacing schemes and continue to address the poor condition of our road network. This funding has now been allocated across all four of my Department’s road divisions.
Work has started on the planning and delivery of new schemes for delivery this financial year. However, the development of the programmes is on-going so full breakdown of these is not yet available.