To ask the Minister for Regional Development for an update on road and footpath improvements in the vicinity of Ballycarry Railway Station.

A number of options have been considered for the provision of a footway over the bridge adjacent to Ballycarry Railway Station. The site is particularly constrained and it is difficult to find a solution that is deliverable, both in terms of practicality and value for money.

One of the options being considered was a footbridge, however, preliminary estimates indicated it would be very expensive to construct. Another option is to introduce traffic signals to control traffic to a single lane, freeing up space for footway provision on the bridge itself. This is more economically viable and has potential for further development, although it may interrupt the flow of traffic on the bridge and lead to some delays at peak periods.

My Department’s officials have had preliminary discussions with their counterparts from Larne Borough Council regarding a number of issues relating to the development of the Gobbins Coastal Path project. These discussions have included consideration of pedestrian movements from Ballycarry Halt to the centre that will be constructed on the Middle Road. My officials will continue discussions with both Translink and Larne Borough Council to further consider the options available for infrastructure improvements, in the vicinity of Ballycarry Halt.