White lines removed from Game of Thrones iconic site

Contractors in north Antrim who mistakenly added road markings at the famous Dark Hedges returned this morning to remove them.
White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges,White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges,
White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges,

The white lines were mistakenly added during recent resurfacing works to the Gregagh Road, whose iconic corridor of trees was made famous by the hit US fantasy series Game of Thrones.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Regional Development said: “Work is underway to remove white lines which were painted “in error” at the famous Dark Hedges in Co Antrim.”

The work was expected to be finished by lunchtime.

White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark HedgesWhite Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges
White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges
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During the operation clouds of smoke filled the air as teams of workers used high-powered equipment to burn off the markings.

Tour buses regularly take Game of Thrones fans to see the trees which featured in an episode of the world-wide hit show as ‘King’s Road’.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Michelle Knight McQuillan said the white lines “did cause a bit of a stir”.

When I got home from a meeting on Monday night I had received a message about it so I contacted TransportNI straight away and the Heritage Trust,” she said.

White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark HedgesWhite Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges
White Lines are removed from the Road at the Dark Hedges
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“I got a call the next morning explaining what had happened and they had recognised straight away that it was a mistake and were putting processes in place to get them removed.

“I understand the work has been carried out today to have them removed.”

The DUP Councillor added: “You can’t take away from the fact it is an actual road as well as a great asset to the Council area, but I am content that Roads Service have done what they said they would do.

“There will probably still be a wee bit of residual marking, but I imagine within a few weeks they will disappear. Anyone who had contacted me was happy enough that they were not going to be left like that.”

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Earlier a spokesman for the DRD explained: “Following completion of a small resurfacing scheme along a 200m stretch of the Bregagh Road at the Dark Hedges, the white lining at the junction with the Ballinlea Road was extended in error.

“The white lining will be burned off by the contractor.

“Whilst there is the potential for some residual marking to the carriageway as a result of the removal, we are confident that, given the time of year and the number of vehicles using the Bregagh Road that any such marks will disappear soon.

“DRD will continue to monitor the condition of the surface over the coming weeks, and will take further action to repair the road if necessary.”

And the white lines error caused a storm on social media, with Dick Glasgow posting: “The Dark Hedges this morning, with shiny wide tarmac & the gaudy white lines ~ hardly in keeping with its Game of Thrones image!

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Surely the wrong way to go! ... If they had an eye for making the most of this wonderful site, surely they’d take the road back to being a dull, single track lane & either make it for pedestrians only, or at the very least make it one way & restrict access to cars only!

After all, if people are prepared to travel thousands of miles to visit this site, they surely wouldn’t mind walking the last stretch from a nearby car park. No vehicle access would also make it much safer, as the way it is right now, it’s just an accident waiting to happen.”

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