Construction work on the £4.9 million Comber Bypass got underway today when Regional Development Minister Peter Robinson cut the first sod on the scheme.

The scheme, which involves the construction of a 1.5km length of single carriageway and a 1km length of dual carriageway road, represents Stage Two of the project. The first stage from the Belfast Road to the Killinchy Road was completed 30 years ago. Work on this phase is expected to take around 16 months to complete.

Major elements of the scheme include the construction of two roundabouts, one at the Killinchy Road junction and the other at the Newtownards Road junction, a large culvert and a bridge over the Enler River.

The second stage of the overall Bypass proposal will link the Killinchy Road to the Newtownards Road along the alignment of the old railway line.

Mr Robinson said that the scheme will provide some welcome relief for the traffic congested town as the existing road through Comber currently carries approximately 20,000 vehicles per day.

“It will provide a welcome relief to the traffic congestion problems in Comber which have increased over the past three decades," he said.

In addition, a number of smaller road improvements are already underway or are programmed to begin in the area – along the A21 Ballygowan Road, A22 Killinchy Road and the A7 Belfast to Downpatrick road.

Mr Robinson thanked the local community and, in particular, landowners for their co-operation during the preliminary stages of the scheme and he also congratulated the main contractor on securing the job in the face of stiff competition.

He said: “Graham (Dromore) Ltd is a long established company with an excellent track record in the construction industry. They are currently working on the Limavady Bypass project, and I am confident that Comber Bypass will soon be included in their portfolio of successfully completed jobs.”

(GMcG)