Construction has started on a £550,000 shared walking and cycling route at Stiles Way in Antrim. The project covers about 480 metres of the B158 and is intended to improve the connection between the Stiles estate, the railway crossing and the A26 Ballymena Road.
The route begins at the Stiles Way roundabout, continues beneath the railway bridge and will join a ramp leading to the Springfarm footbridge. It is being built as a shared footway and cycleway, allowing people travelling on foot or by bicycle to use the same continuous link.
A new toucan crossing is also planned on the eastern side of the roundabout. The path will connect with the existing crossing on the southern side at the Ballymena Road entrance, reducing the need for pedestrians and cyclists to negotiate the roundabout through disconnected sections.
Temporary traffic management came into operation on Monday and is expected to remain for around 18 weeks. Drivers using Stiles Way have been advised to allow additional time, particularly while lanes or working areas are restricted around the scheme.
The Department for Infrastructure said the timetable remains dependent on suitable weather. Access arrangements and temporary restrictions may change as construction moves between sections, with road users asked to follow signs and instructions in the area.