NEWS

Drivers in Northern Ireland could soon be banned from overtaking stopped buses — and may even be required to slow dramatically or stop — under new proposals aimed at protecting children during one of the most dangerous moments of their school journey. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins  has launched a public consultation exploring sweeping changes to how motorists behave when passengers, particularly schoolchildren, are getting on or off buses. The proposals come in response

Tens of thousands of road openings carried out by utility companies each year are contributing to the deterioration of Northern Ireland’s road network, Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee has warned — raising concerns that taxpayers may be footing the bill. In a critical report, MLAs said the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) cannot currently determine how much of the growing maintenance burden is linked to utility reinstatements, nor confirm that companies are covering t

Kintra ferry crossing the Rathlin Sound. (Image: Shauna Fannin) A new summer ferry timetable for Rathlin Island has been confirmed — with extra early weekend sailings designed to support workers and boost the island’s busy tourism season. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced the updated schedule will run from Friday 3 April to Wednesday 30 September 2026, introducing an additional return crossing every Saturday and Sunday morning. The new sailings will depart Rathlin

Safety concerns raised by local residents have prompted action at a rural junction in north Antrim, with confirmation that improvements are now on the way. North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has welcomed a response from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), outlining planned measures to improve visibility and safety at the junction of Glenleslie Road and Moneyduff Road, Clough. The move follows representations made by Mr Frew after constituents highlighted ongoing worries about th

Recent flooding in the Antrim area. (Pic: Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM) A stark admission from Stormont has laid bare failings in the initial response to January’s flooding in Antrim, with South Antrim MP Robin Swann  warning that residents were left vulnerable as unsuitable equipment struggled to keep pace with rising waters. In a letter responding to his concerns, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins  confirmed that early efforts to tackle flooding in the Riverside area were i

A new recruitment campaign offering careers maintaining Northern Ireland’s road network has been launched, with opportunities ranging from industrial roadworker roles to trainee civil engineering posts. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins announced the two competitions, which aim to strengthen the workforce responsible for keeping the region’s roads safe, maintained and operating efficiently. The campaign is seeking applicants for Industrial Road Worker positions across North

(L-R): Dr Darren Mornin Principal of Limavady High School, Cian Canning Head Boy, St Mary's High School Limavady, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, Harry Kealey, Head Boy, Limavady High School and Sean Mullan Principal of St Mary's High School. One of the biggest changes to driver licensing in Northern Ireland in almost 70 years is set to reshape how young people learn to drive — with new rules aimed at tackling the high number of serious road collisions involving new driv

Minister Kimmins is pictured with Sarah Schaefer, ESG Director and John McLeister, Managing Director of Sales for the UK and Ireland The push to decarbonise Northern Ireland’s transport network took centre stage in Ballymena this week as Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins  visited Wrightbus  to see first-hand how the sector is shaping the journey to net zero. Touring the factory floor, the Minister met staff and viewed progress on zero-emission bus technology that is already

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced an additional £2.5million investment in essential roads maintenance this financial year, reinforcing her commitment to tackling the toll recent severe weather has taken on Northern Ireland’s road network. Since December, Minister Kimmins has overseen more than £40million in roads funding, including a £30million December Monitoring Allocation supporting 40 resurfacing schemes and a £7.85million Winter Recovery Road Fund targeti

Alderman Stewart McDonald welcomes the confirmation of resurfacing works on Sand Road, Galgorm Resurfacing works on Sand Road, Galgorm are expected to commence soon after confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), with short-term disruption anticipated while the improvement scheme is carried out. TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald welcomed the update, describing the long-awaited road maintenance as necessary and beneficial for the area. “I welcome confirmation fro

Kilrea Bridge on the B64 Bann Road in Kilrea will fully reopen to all vehicles at 5pm on Wednesday 18 February, following the successful completion of permanent structural repair works, the Department for Infrastructure has confirmed. The bridge, which has been restricted to cars and light vehicles since early December, will once again be accessible to all traffic as width and weight restrictions are lifted. The reopening marks the completion of the main stabilisation works,

South Antrim MP Robin Swann   South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to make urgent investment in the deteriorating road network surrounding Belfast International Airport and the M2 motorway, warning that the current condition poses safety risks and damages vehicles on one of Northern Ireland’s most important transport corridors. Highlighting the scale of the problem, Mr Swann said the state of the roads serving the airport and M2 w

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has launched a £7.85 million Winter Recovery Road Fund to address widespread damage caused by recent severe weather, following a sharp rise in potholes and surface defects across the road network. The announcement comes in addition to 40 resurfacing schemes already programmed after the Minister’s December Monitoring allocation, and is intended to provide an urgent response to the impact of storms, prolonged rainfall, ice and snow. £7.85m f

Large waves recorded in Carrickfergus on Thursday afternoon. (Image: Sarah Ellen Photography NI) Multi-agency emergency partners are on high alert as preparations continue ahead of forecast heavy rain across Northern Ireland in the coming days. A Met Office Yellow weather warning for rain is currently in place until 11.59pm on Friday 6 February, with further rainfall expected to continue throughout the weekend. Officials say staff from all relevant agencies are already on the

Police in Antrim & Newtownabbey issued a warning to drivers on Monday (2nd February) after receiving reports of a large pothole on Tully Road, towards Antrim, that caused damage to a number of vehicles Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is working to secure an additional funding package to address widespread damage to roads caused by recent severe weather, adding to the £30 million already announced before Christmas. The move follows weeks of disruptive conditions across No

Kilrea Bridge, and (inset) North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston Businesses on both sides of the River Bann are facing severe financial pressure following the prolonged closure of Kilrea Bridge, with some traders reporting losses of hundreds of pounds per day and warning that their long-term viability is now at risk. The issue was raised in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday by North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston , who used an Adjournment Debate to highlight the economic and

The scene on Steeple Road, Antrim Road users across Northern Ireland are being urged to exercise caution as the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) continues to respond to the aftermath of Storm Chandra, which has brought widespread flooding, fallen trees and hazardous driving conditions. While weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds have now ended, the impact on the road network remains significant, with difficult conditions reported in many areas due to surface wat

The Met Office has issued a further yellow weather warning for ice across Northern Ireland, as multi-agency partners continue to meet in response to Storm Chandra and its ongoing impacts. The warning is in place from 03:00 to 10:00 on Wednesday 28 January 2026 , with all counties affected. Forecasters have warned that clearing skies overnight on Tuesday will allow temperatures to fall below freezing, increasing the risk of icy conditions following several days of heavy rainfa

Students at Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen who will among those learning about Graduated Drivers Licensing today. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) is to be introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2026, marking the most significant reform of driver licensing and testing in almost 70 years, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. The new scheme, unveiled as part of a Road Safety Strategy Action Plan, is aimed at tackling the disproportionate involvement

Kilrea Bridge Residents and businesses in north Antrim have been given fresh reassurance that progress is being made on repairs to the Kilrea Bridge, with confirmation that the route is expected to reopen by mid-February. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) MLA for North Antrim Jon Burrows said the update followed correspondence from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), welcoming the progress after a prolonged period of disruption for local communities. “Further to this correspo