Dickson slams Carrick road chaos

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Aug 2004

Carrickfergus Alliance Councillor, Stewart Dickson, has attacked the DRD Roads Service for the road traffic chaos that ensued on the A2 Belfast Road during the Monday evening rush hour.

This road is currently being resurfaced. On Monday evening, a lane was closed from Trooperslane to the Carrickgerus Castle which caused a 3-hour snarl up for motorists returning home from Belfast.

Cllr Dickson stated:

"Everyone accepts the need to resurface roads. But this must be done at times that create the least inconvenience to road users.

"This is one of the busiest commuter routes in all of Northern Ireland. At the best of times, the road struggles to cope with the traffic. But when a lane is closed at the wrong time chaos ensues.

"On busy roads, it is normal practice that the Roads Service do not close lanes during the morning and evening rush hour, and seek to complete the work during the day and at night.

"On Monday evening, it took many motorists 3 hours to travel from Belfast to Carrickfergus. I have been inundated by complaints, including one from a mother who was taking a sick baby home from the Royal and found it incredibly difficult to control an upset child over that time without access to food or drink.

"I am amazed that the Roads Service could not acticipate that this situation would develop. They must now ensure that it can not occur again."