The route is due to be shut for up to 12 months from early next year while motorway widening and bridge replacement works are carried out. However, that plan has sparked outrage among Glengormley residents, business owners and politicians, who fear that long-term closure and lengthy traffic diversions via Sandyknowes will have a serious detrimental impact on the area.
Hundreds of people attended a recent public meeting in St. Enda's GAA club to vent their anger at the lack of consultation prior to the initial closure of the bridge for preparatory works last month. They also called on Roads Service and contractors Highway Management Construction to install a single carriageway temporary bridge over the M2 during the year-long closure.
During that meeting, Roads Service officials claimed erecting a Bailey bridge (a temporary steel structure) at the site had been considered, but would not be possible.
However, following a meeting between a cross-party political delegation from the Glengormley area and Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy at Stormont on Tuesday afternoon, Department officials have now agreed to look again at the temporary bridge option.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the five main political parties, including South Antrim MP William McCrea, MLAs David Ford, Mitchel McLaughlin and Thomas Burns, councillors Tom Campbell and Janet Crilly, and Newtownabbey Mayor Nigel Hamilton, who led the delegation.
Glengormley business owner Terry Boyle and local resident Denise Picken, who organised last month's public meeting in Hightown, were also present, as was Parish Priest for the area, Fr. Dan Whyte.
"This meeting has provided me with a useful opportunity to learn at first hand about the problems facing local residents during the bridge closure and to discuss the temporary traffic management arrangements," Mr Murphy commented.
"I can confirm that the Hightown Road will reopen to traffic on 23 November - one week earlier than planned and it is not due to be closed again until early February 2008. During this time my officials will be considering the feasibility of providing a temporary bridge during the planned one-year closure. They will also be reviewing the traffic management arrangements, emergency access requirements and the need for additional buses for school children," he assured.
Mr Boyle, who runs a taxi business on the Hightown Road, said that the delegation had received "a very fair hearing" and welcomed the Department's commitment to give further consideration to a temporary bridge scheme as "very positive".
"A temporary bridge might cost more money and mean that it'll take a little bit longer to complete the work, but at the end of the day I think people won't mind that as long as the bridge is opened again," he said.
Councillor Campbell said that the meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, had been "very helpful".
"According to the experts, erecting a Bailey bridge seems to be a significant problem as it could involve the purchase of a number of properties in the area, but they have at least agreed to look again at several issues such as the traffic signalling and the impact on Sandyknowes.
"From what we were told by the officials I wouldn't be too optimistic that we will get a temporary bridge, but if they are going to reconsider it as an option then I would welcome that," he said.
Mr Ford, who described the meeting as "reasonably useful", added: "The engineers aren't being particularly positive and I have concerns that we may not get anything sorted in terms of a temporary bridge, but at least they agreed to go back and look again at the options.
"They said that they will report back in January to residents and their political representatives, so we will have to wait and see what they come up with at that stage."
A public meeting is expected to take place at Edmund Rice College within the next couple of weeks to keep local people updated on the outcome of the meeting with the Minister.