NEWS

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

Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA has called on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to take urgent action following widespread disruption caused by snow and ice across Northern Ireland last week. Mr Stewart has confirmed that, at his request, the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee has agreed to write formally to the Minister, seeking answers over the handling of winter services during the recent spell of severe weather. The cold snap led to signif

Image: Anne Kelly Ferry passengers travelling to Rathlin Island and across Strangford Lough will face increased fares from 1 February 2026, following confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure. The Department has announced that the revised charges will apply to both the Ballycastle–Rathlin Island ferry service and the Strangford–Portaferry ferry service, with the increases aligned to Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation. According to the Department for Infrastructur

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has called for a new bridge in Kilrea in the wake of the prolonged closure of the village’s Bann bridge. At January’s full council meeting, members approved a cross-party motion proposed by UUP councillor Richard Holmes and seconded by Sinn Féin councillor Sean Bateson and DUP alderman Michelle Knight-McQuillan . The motion stated: “This council notes the recent closure of Kilrea’s Bann Bridge due to maintenance issues and the detri

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the Infrastructure Minister to review the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) Roads policy on grit provision, warning that the current approach risks undermining community efforts to improve safety during winter weather. The intervention follows recent snow and icy conditions, during which many communities relied heavily on grit to help keep roads and footways passable. Mr Swann said residents have expressed a willingness to take p

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has paid tribute to road gritting teams for their efforts in keeping Northern Ireland’s main routes safe during the Christmas period and the current spell of severe winter weather. Gritting crews have been operating throughout the festive season and during an ongoing cold snap that has brought heavy snowfall to parts of the Northern Ireland, placing increased pressure on road services and frontline staff.

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has urged the public to make road safety a priority in 2026 following the release of provisional figures showing that 57 people lost their lives on Northern Ireland’s roads in 2025. The latest data, published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), highlights a decrease on the 69 fatalities recorded in 2024 and the 71 deaths in 2023. However, the figures also reveal deeply concerning trends involving vulnerable road users, particu

More than £30 million in additional funding has been allocated to improve roads across Northern Ireland, with £4 million specifically targeted at the rural road network, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. The new funding package, secured through the December Monitoring process, will support an expanded programme of road improvement works aimed at addressing longstanding maintenance challenges and improving safety for road users across both urban and rural area

Translink has today (17 December 2025) published a landmark report detailing feasibility studies for four transformative rail projects, offering fresh hope for improved connectivity across Northern Ireland. The document, Shaping the Future: A Rail Network for Northern Ireland , builds on the All-Island Strategic Rail Review and highlights schemes that could reconnect long-isolated communities, slash journey times, and support the shift to sustainable travel. For many resident

Kilrea Bridge Kilrea Bridge is set to reopen to cars and light vehicles this weekend, as the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirms that temporary stabilisation works are nearing completion. The route will reopen at 8am on Saturday 6 December, restoring a vital connection for local residents and businesses in the run-up to Christmas. The bridge, located on the B64 Bann Road, has been closed to allow engineers to carry out essential safety work. DfI has now confirmed tha

Kilrea Bridge UUP councillor Richard Holmes has expressed concern that responsibility for supporting local businesses affected by the closure of Kilrea Bridge is “being passed around like a grenade” among government departments. In late September, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) announced the bridge’s closure due to concerns about the structural stability of a retaining wall on the approach to the structure. DfI has since said it is working with a specialist contrac