Inquiry on North Antrim dualling scheme welcomed

He also said that the entire road should be upgraded in the longer term ensuring that there is dual carriageway “from Cork to Coleraine”.

Mr McKay said: “It is to be welcome that this inquiry will take place and seek to address the concerns of some local people who will clearly be affected by the building of a new dual carriageway between Glarryford and the Drones Road.

“However when this inquiry is completed the Minister must ensure that work will finally commence on this project as this is a key piece of infrastructure as far as our tourism industry is concerned. It will also make the life of commuters from Ballycastle and Ballymoney that little bit easier by shaving a number of minutes off their daily travel time.

“In the longer term the dualling of the A26 beyond Ballymoney needs to become a key objective in terms of growing our local economy. This piece of work will mean that there is continuous dualled carriageway from Coleraine to Cork and that the north coast is easily linked to domestic tourists throughout the island.”