Traffic chaos 'was unexpected'

The Department of Regional Development has said it will review procedures after the closure of a stretch of the M2 on Sunday caused long delays.

Roy Spiers from the DRD said the amount of disruption was unexpected.

"I didn't honestly expect the delays to be as significant as they have been. In that respect I will be reviewing everything we do," he said.

"This was a one-off to do essential surfacing to allow us to complete the improvement works we have underway."

Hundreds of people were held up for hours on the motorway, some missing flights and ferries.

Mr Spiers said the work could not be done just at night due to a number of factors including light and temperature.

He added the work was completed "well within the allocated time and (the road) reopened at 2215."

My flight should been at 2105 GMT - I had to rebook, it cost me £162. I also had to hire my car for another day and stay with my father

Rob Hall

One of the motorists caught up in the delays was Rob Hall, who was travelling from Portrush to the George Best Belfast City Airport.

"I was driving down the M2 with no idea this was going to happen, drove up to junction five and there was an overhead sign and I had about ten seconds to make a decision and couldn't get off the motorway in time," he said.

"There was then miles of red lights in front of me and I sat there from about a quarter to seven until about nine o'clock, eventually getting off at Sandyknowes.

"My flight should have been at 2105 GMT - I had to rebook, it cost me £162. I also had to hire my car for another day and stay with my father when I should have been at work this morning."

There are no further daytime closures planned for this section of the road.