This busy rural junction currently sees 6 roads meet at one point in the townland of Ballygrainey, and is therefore known locally as "Six Road Ends". As a quick route from eastern Bangor to eastern Newtownards and on to Millisle and Donaghadee, traffic levels are a lot higher than is safe. Two of the roads are arbitrarily the through route, with four give-ways.

Since there is not enough room with existing buildings to add the large roundabout that would be the ideal solution, the scheme will involve construction of a new roundabout to the east of the Orange Hall at the junction. Four of the roads will join this roundabout. Ballycroghan Road will be curved to the east to join the Cotton (Donaghadee) Road at a T-junction, while on the western side, Green Road will be curved to the north to meet Gransha Road at another T-junction.

See the link above for a map of the new layout. The aerial photograph of the existing junction, below, gives a good suggestion of the new road layout. Hedge removal took place in February 2006, and NIE service relocation in June, both in advance of the project. The main contractor is Fox Building and Engineering Ltd. The project will involve the temporary closure of each of the six roads for varying lengths of time, but these will apparently be for as short a time as is feasible.

Progress

Update 28 Feb 2007: The roundabout is now completed and opened. Both sides of the A48 are now on their new alignments, as is the Ballycrochan Road and Upper Gransha Road. Only the Green Road and Gransha Road remain to be upgraded. Completion looks likely by the advertised May deadline.

Update 2 Apr 2007: All roads are now open, although some landscaping work may remain.

Photos

The completed junction seen from the air in May 2008. Newtownards is to the top. [Wesley Johnston]

The new roundabout open to traffic in late December 2006 (seen from Newtownards end). [Photo by Norman Johnston]

However, also in late December 2006, we can see that the original junction is still in use as only part of the new road system has been completed (seen from Newtownards end). [Photo by Norman Johnston]

In mid October 2006, this was the view towards Six Road Ends from the Donaghadee end. The link to the new roundabout where the digger is is taking shape. Still much to be done! [Photo by Aubrey Dale]

Work progressing at Six Road Ends looking towards Donaghadee on 4 Sep 2006. This gravel is the new route of the A48 which will join a roundabout roughly where the photographer is standing. [Photo by Aubrey Dale]

Six Road Ends seen looking north east prior to works on 5 August 2006 [Photo by Aubrey Dale].

Six Road Ends seen from the air. [Photo from Google Earth]