DfI Roads facts for kids

The Department for Infrastructure Roads, often called DfI Roads, is a special group in Northern Ireland. It used to be known as Transport NI or the Roads Service. Its main job is to look after and keep all the roads and highways in Northern Ireland in good condition. DfI Roads is part of a bigger government department called the Department for Infrastructure.

What Does DfI Roads Do?

DfI Roads is responsible for a lot more than just roads! They make sure that people can travel safely and easily across Northern Ireland. Their work includes:

• Keeping roads smooth and safe for cars, buses, and bikes.
• Looking after footpaths, which are paths for people walking.
• Maintaining bridges so they are strong and safe to cross.
• Making sure streetlights are working to keep areas bright at night.
• Managing public car parks where people can leave their cars.

They fix potholes, clear snow, put up road signs, and make sure traffic lights are working correctly. All these tasks help everyone get around safely every day.

How Big is DfI Roads?

DfI Roads is a very large organization. It has over 2,000 people working for it. This means it employs more staff than its main parent department, the Department for Infrastructure.

In the year 2010-2011, DfI Roads was responsible for:

• More than 25,000 kilometres (about 15,534 miles) of public roads. That's like driving across the whole of the United States more than five times!
• Around 9,500 kilometres (about 5,903 miles) of footpaths.
• About 5,800 bridges.
• A huge number of streetlights, around 265,000 in total.
• 370 public car parks.

These numbers show just how much work DfI Roads does to keep Northern Ireland moving.

A Bit of History

DfI Roads has changed its name and moved between different government departments over the years.

• Originally, it was known as the Roads Service.
• It was part of the Department of the Environment.
• In 1998, a new department was created called the Department for Regional Development (DRD). The Roads Service then moved to become part of the DRD.
• Later, the Roads Service was renamed Transport NI.
• In 2016, the Department for Regional Development (DRD) changed its name to the Department for Infrastructure. At this time, Transport NI became the Department for Infrastructure Roads or DfI Roads, which is what it is called today.