Speaker for 4th October 2016
Coleraine Probus members were taken for a drive recently, when Billy Miller, Senior Civil Engineer with the Department for Infrastructure Transport N.I. came to the club to talk about “The A26 Road Upgrade”.
The upgrade for the A26, from Glarryford to the Drones Road, was first planed and published in 2005. Finance for the contract was made available in 2013, and in October that year the tender of the Main Contractors, Bam/McCann was accepted. The costs of the upgrade were fixed at £55million, and contract is due for completion during the summer of 2017. Billy related in detail the management of the Project and described the various obstacles and solutions encountered along the way. The upgrade route takes in nearly 8km of the Antrim countryside and effects 66 landowners as well as heritage sensitive sites such as the Frosses trees (which will feature as 'rest areas' off the busy road) and Drumadoon House (which is a 'Listed' building).
The contractors have also faced some interesting environmental challenges, including an area of 'Peat Bog'. This has had the peat removed (which was up to 8 meters deep in places) then filled with soil and highway base materials, The removed peat was then taken to another nearby bog area which was failing. The introduction of the Frosses peat will rejuvenate that bog land.
The members certainly appreciated Billy’s expert analysis of the project from its inception to the anticipated completion date and were treated to an aerial video, dramatically illustrating the magnitude of the A26 road upgrade, and the beauty of the countryside along the A26 route.
A searching question and answer session followed the talk, in which the members learnt some interesting facts. Among these were that: There are 4 'over bridges', 2 'under bridges', 2 'under passes' and 1 retaining wall in the contract. On top of the many meters of foundation work and carriageway bedding, the actual road 'surface' would be only 35mm thick; And that the actual construction work for the upgrade is about 60% of the costs, the remainder going in compensation costs to the land owners.
A vote of thanks proposed by Leo Dolan and was passed to Billy by the Vice President. The members showed their appreciation.
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For a fully illustrated and detailed description of the A26 Dualling, that is regularly updated, just 'Click' this link (This will open in a new window)
(We've 'borrowed' some of their photos for this report - many thanks 'NI Roads Site')
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Link to A26 Route Map:
A26 dualling Glarryford to Drones Road (This will open in a new window)
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'Click' the button below for some extra A26 goodies to have a look at:
To view some photos of the work in progress
AND
To watch a 'pre-work starting' view of that was planed in 2012
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To view the full BamMcCann A26 Gallery: Just 'Click' this link. (This will open in a new window)
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PLUS
An Article from the 'Belfast Telegraph' - 2nd Feb 2016:-
Work on the A26 between Ballymena and Ballymoney.
The route, which is used by almost 20,000 people every day, had become a notorious bottleneck for commuters, but almost one million tonnes of earth have already been moved to build an extra eight kilometres of dual carriageway.
A section of the River Clough has been redirected and a new roundabout will be built at the A44 Drones Road junction, as well as a number of flyover junctions along the route.
The new road is being constructed close to the original A26, meaning the scheme has been developed with local landmarks and existing businesses in mind.
The famous Frosses Trees section of the A26, close to Cloughmills, will not be affected and an alternative entrance has been created for customers of Logan’s Fashions.
However, pictures of the construction works reveal the well-known premises have been dwarfed by the size of the project that is under way in its shadow.
William Diver, contract manager for BAM/McCann, the firm carrying out the scheme, said the project is on track for its completion date.
He said: “Particularly inclement weather over the last six months has had an impact on the works, but we have still managed to make good progress, with approximately 800,000 tonnes of earth being moved to date and currently there are six bridge structures under construction along the scheme.
“The next nine months are going to be an intensive period on the project. We will see the completion of bulk earthworks, completion of all bridge structures, installation of drainage and utility pipework, road pavement works and finishing works, such as safety barrier, street lighting and signage.
“There will also be a number of major traffic management switches during the course of this year, with traffic being moved on to sections of the new carriageway to allow the existing road to be removed and new carriageway constructed.”
Transport minister Michelle McIlveen has hailed the progress made by the project, which marks a significant investment by the Northern Ireland Executive in the roads infrastructure.
She said: “Once completed this scheme will help improve road safety, reduce congestion and improve journey times.
“I have been really impressed by the sheer scale of this project and how it has been managed on the ground. Good progress is being made and it is on schedule to be completed in summer 2017.”
