A2 upgrade will mean more jobs for Carrick – Beggs

File photo: Pictured with Transport Minister Danny Kennedy during a site visit on the A2 Shore Road are Basil Hassard, Transport NI project manager and Stephen McFaul, project manager. Picture by Brian Morrison

The completion of the A2 Shore Road upgrade will lead to better job prospects for Carrick residents, East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs has said.

The Ulster Unionist Assemblyman was speaking following news that a section of the new road was opened last week to aid traffic flow.

“This scheme was a high priority of the Ulster Unionist Party when we took over the Department for Regional Development in 2011,” Mr Beggs said.

“I would like to thank my colleague, Minister Danny Kennedy, for recognising the pressing case for removing the Greenisland bottleneck in the A2 and allocating the required funding for the scheme to go ahead – this scheme has been in the pipeline since the 1970s.

“With over 30,000 vehicular movements every 24 hours, the road needed to be upgraded. I look forward to the work being finally completed over the summer months. Graham Construction and their staff must be complemented on how they managed to build the new road yet keep the traffic flowing.

“When completed, there will be better traffic flow for commuters, emergency services will no longer have to struggle through traffic congestion,” Mr Beggs added.

“In addition, with Carrickfergus having improved access to the Greater Belfast region, we can expect better job prospects as employers recognise the potential of the Trooperslane, Kilroot and Carrickfergus Industrial Centre business parks.”