Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed a £326,000 resurfacing scheme for Antrim Road in Templepatrick, combining new footways with fresh carriageway surfacing. The works began this week and will culminate in a weekday road closure between 09:30 and 16:30 from Monday 29 September to Tuesday 7 October 2025.
For residents, commuters and businesses using this key stretch of the A6, the short-term disruption is billed as the price of smoother, safer journeys in the longer term. With Antrim Road feeding Belfast International Airport, the M2 and several fast-growing residential developments, the project’s timing and traffic management plan will affect thousands of daily journeys.
£326,000 Investment for Templepatrick Road Users
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) estimates the scheme will cost £326,000. Footway improvements are already under way, and the main resurfacing will run on weekdays only, closing the road between Paradise Walk and Belfast Road during off-peak hours.
Announcing the upgrade, Minister Kimmins said: “This is a substantial investment for the Templepatrick area … Once completed the scheme will deliver significant benefits for residents and road users. I would like to thank residents, local businesses and commuters for their patience … and remind road users to allow extra time for their journey.”
What Drivers Need to Know About Closures and Diversions
- Closure window: 09:30–16:30, Monday 29 September – Tuesday 7 October 2025 (weekdays only).
- Main diversion for cars: Antrim Road → Paradise Walk → Loughanmore Road → Greystone Road → Ballycraigy Road → Belfast Road.
- Heavy-goods and airport traffic: Via the A57, M2 (north- and south-bound slips), M22 Dunsilly junction, Ballymena Road and Dublin Road to re-join Antrim Road.
- Village centre traffic: Lylehill Road, Ballyutoag Road, Seven Mile Straight and Old Ballyrobin Road (for Dunadry/Antrim) or Old Coach Road and Mallusk Road (for Parkgate/Doagh).
- Live updates: Drivers can check Trafficwatch NI for daily bulletins.
The Department says local access will be “accommodated where possible”, but motorists should expect queues near Templepatrick roundabout and at the Greystone Road junction.
Why the Upgrade Matters – and What We Still Don’t Know
Re-surfacing can extend road life by up to 20 years, reduce vehicle damage, and lower collision risk—important gains on a route that carries commuter, agricultural and airport traffic. Yet several details remain opaque:
- The announcement does not specify whether the £326,000 comes from the current capital maintenance budget or a separate funding stream.
- There is no mention of provision for cyclists or longer-term active travel plans, despite the route forming part of the popular NCN 94 link to Antrim town.
- Public transport impacts—particularly on the busy 300 airport service—are unaddressed.
- Noise and emissions modelling during the diversion period are not discussed, even though HGVs will be routed past residential streets and schools.
More broadly, the Auditor General warned last year that Northern Ireland faces a £1.2 billion backlog in road maintenance (NIAO, 2024). Isolated resurfacing projects help, but they sit within a wider context of funding pressures, climate-related damage and growing calls for active-travel-friendly design. It remains to be seen how this scheme aligns with the Executive’s net-zero transport commitments.
Questions for Policymakers
- How will the Department measure the scheme’s success beyond smoother asphalt—e.g. reduced collisions or shorter journey times?
- What contingency plans exist if wet autumn weather delays completion past 7 October?
- Why is there no explicit provision for segregated cycling or pedestrian safety upgrades, given rising active-travel targets?
- How will Translink services be kept on schedule during the weekday closures?
- Could night-time or weekend working have shortened the overall programme and reduced business disruption?
Looking Ahead
By early October Templepatrick should have a newly surfaced A6 and upgraded pavements—welcome news for motorists and pedestrians alike. The bigger picture, however, is whether one-off projects can keep pace with an ageing network and changing transport patterns. Residents may wish to monitor future DfI statements for clarity on funding sources, active-travel integration and follow-up maintenance cycles.