To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the plans her Department has to minimise the disruption to local residents and businesses, due of the closure of Bann Bridge, Kilrea.

I fully acknowledge the inconvenience caused by the closure and the impact it has had on the local business and residential community, particularly with regard to increased travel times for commuters and disruption to public transport services in the area.

My Department is working at pace to take forward temporary repairs to allow the Bann Bridge in Kilrea to be reopened as soon as possible. Officials are also reviewing the traffic management arrangements in and around Portglenone to identify potential improvements that could help ease traffic flow along the diversionary route.

To keep the public informed of progress, a dedicated webpage for Kilrea Bridge has been established on the Department’s website Kilrea Bridge, B64 Bann Road, Kilrea – Closure | Department for Infrastructure. This page will be regularly updated as further information becomes available.