Project summary

Named as the ‘Construction Project of the Year’ at the Plant and Civil Engineer Awards, the A2 Shore Road scheme has significantly eased longstanding traffic congestion on this strategic network route between Belfast and Carrickfergus – a route that carries over 35,000 vehicles each day.

Completed on time and on budget, this project comprised of the design and build of 1.9km online and 1.6km offline road widening. These important upgrade works were complemented by the construction of a new overbridge and five new at-grade junctions, including four traffic signals. Our robust traffic management on the scheme was commended by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The detail

The A2 Shore Road project has significantly reduced commuter journey times and confined lengthy traffic jams to a “thing of the past” since it was realised in October 2015.

Awarded Gold (2016) and Bronze (2015) at the Considerate Constructor’s Scheme National Site Awards, the project also earned a CEEQUAL Excellent rating, achieving a score of 85.4% as part of the evidence-based sustainability assessment. As a sign of our close collaboration and partnership with the client, no contractual disputes were raised.

Completed in 1,093,680 ‘manhours’, the project centred on widening 1.9km of the A2 Shore Road and upgrading this section of the road into an urban dual carriageway.

In addition, an entirely new dual carriageway of 1.6km was constructed between Station Road and Seapark, with four new roundabouts connecting the new section of road to the existing network.