Works to Tackle Shore Road Flooding Delayed by up to Six Months

Long-awaited works to resolve persistent flooding on the Shore Road, close to the Mill Road junction near Newtownabbey, face delays of up to six months.

The busy stretch of road has become a major flashpoint during heavy downpours and storms in recent years. Severe flooding has repeatedly triggered emergency road closures and major traffic diversions, causing significant disruption for local residents and motorists.

Although NI Water has drawn up an engineering scheme to resolve the drainage problems, necessary ground investigation works must be carried out before the design can be finalised. These investigations have been held up because NI Water has been unable to secure required access agreements with several landowners.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins confirmed that the delay means a solution could not be delivered by the original October 2026 target. She explained that NI Water continues to seek access arrangements, and once agreements are reached with all relevant landowners, completing the ground investigations and the full scheme will take between four and six months.

North Belfast Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister voiced deep frustration over the postponement, emphasising the heavy toll the flooding continues to take on the local area. She also highlighted serious environmental concerns, warning that the volume of sewage entering Belfast Lough risks creating severe ecological problems, drawing comparisons to the environmental crisis at Lough Neagh.

Community representatives have pledged to keep local residents updated on any progress as efforts continue to resolve the land access negotiations and get the vital infrastructure works underway.