B96 (Northern Ireland)

Route

Near Portglenone

The B96 is an L-shaped road in west County Antrim.

The road starts at the northern end of Main Street, the B62, in Rasharkin and heads west along Bridge Street, then TOTSOs right at the end onto Moneyleck Road; turn left to return to Main Street. A sharp left-hand bend takes us out of town and we descend to cross the B64 at a staggered crossroads.

Now heading vaguely southwards we contour along the side of the valley of the River Bann and cross a few tributaries before following Townhill Road into Portglenone. In the village centre we reach a mini-roundabout and turn left, cannoning off the A42 onto Cullybackey Road. After returning to open country we climb out of the valley and onto the Long Mountain; at one point the road detours to the north to lessen the climb.

After levelling out we reach a crossroads and TOTSO right to run along the ridge to another crossroads, where we TOTSO left. The road then descends gradually into the valley of the River Main and ends just after entering Cullbackey. The B93 comes in from the right and TOTSOs to take on the road ahead into town.

History

The B96 was originally unclassified but the number came to the area in the mid-1920s. At that time the road only ran between Portglenone and Cullybackey, although it followed a more southerly route along Garvaghy Road. The road had been rerouted and extended north by 1930, giving it its present route.