In 2004, the massive Junction One Outlet Centre opened on the A26 Ballymena Road. Presumably as a condition of planning permission, this required the upgrading of the road to dual-carriageway standard. The central 400 metre stretch (from the existing Stiles Road roundabout north to Niblock Road) was completed in the summer of 2004 in Phase 1.

In 2006 further work was carried out to extend this to the north and the south. This was presumably due to the expansion of commercial activity at the Junction One site. The northern 340 metre stretch from Niblock Road to a new roundabout at Kilbegs Road was constructed during 2006 and opened towards the end of the year, according to this document. This included the construction of a new bridge over a minor watercourse at the northern end. The Southern 390 metre stretch from Stiles Road roundabout to a new roundabout giving access to junction One appears to have been built at the same time, according to this document.

This Google Maps overlay shows the two stretches upgraded in Phase 2.

Photos