Woodtown Road resurfacing moves a step closer but funding and utility issues remain
North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew during a site visit to Woodtown Road
Thursday 12 November 2026
Plans to resurface a stretch of the Woodtown Road in Ballymena are being developed following complaints from local residents about the deteriorating condition of the road, although funding and unresolved utility issues could affect when the work can proceed.
North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew has welcomed confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) that the section between the Old Cullybackey Road junction and Ballymoney Road has been referred for the development of a resurfacing scheme.
However, the Department has indicated that any proposed work will depend on the availability of funding and resources, as well as the resolution of ongoing utility-related issues connected to nearby new developments.
Residents raise concerns over road condition
Mr Frew said he contacted DfI after receiving complaints from several constituents about the condition of the road surface.
He requested that officials investigate the affected stretch and clarify what repair work could be undertaken.
The Department subsequently advised him that the road had been referred to its consultancy unit to develop a resurfacing scheme.
While the referral represents progress towards potential improvements, it does not amount to confirmation that resurfacing has been approved, funded or scheduled.
Funding and utility issues remain obstacles
According to Mr Frew, DfI has identified two significant conditions that must be addressed before any resurfacing scheme can proceed.
The first is the availability of sufficient funding and resources to deliver the work. The second concerns ongoing utility-related issues associated with adjacent new developments.
The precise nature of those utility issues, and when they might be resolved, has not been detailed in the information provided.
No timetable has been confirmed for completing the scheme's development or beginning resurfacing work.
Frew pledges to continue pressing for repairs
Welcoming the Department's response, Mr Frew described the decision to develop a resurfacing scheme as an encouraging development for residents who have raised concerns.
He said:
“I welcome DFI's commitment to develop a resurfacing scheme for this stretch of road; this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.”
The North Antrim MLA also pledged to maintain pressure on the Department to ensure the concerns of local residents remain a priority.
“I will continue to engage with residents and DFI and will continue to press for the necessary repairs to this stretch of road to be carried out as soon as possible.”
For residents and motorists using the Woodtown Road, the referral offers the prospect of improvements to the deteriorating surface. However, with funding and utility matters still unresolved, there remains no confirmed date for when the road will be resurfaced.
