Kennedy opens £2.75million junction in Londonderry

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy today opened the new £2.75 million Culmore Road signalised junction on a visit to Londonderry.
~ Thursday, 13 October 2011

The Minister said: “The roundabout, which lies on a key strategic route, has over 45,000 vehicles per day passing through it and is an important junction for motorists. The completion of the Culmore junction has removed a significant obstacle to motorists at peak times of the day. The new signalised roundabout has eased congestion at this key junction, resulting in improved safety and journey times for traffic travelling this route.”

The Culmore roundabout scheme involved the widening of approach roads to the roundabout with the construction of two new slip roads, one from the rural section of the Culmore Road to the approach to Foyle Bridge and the other onto Culmore Road towards the city centre from the Bridge. Traffic lights were constructed within the new footprint of the junction.

The scheme was co-funded between DRD Roads Service and the EU under its INTERREG IVA Programme and was constructed in two phases by PT McWilliams Ltd and Whitemountain Quarries Ltd with minimal disruption to traffic.

The Minister added: “This scheme will further improve travelling conditions for the people of the northwest and complements the £1.6 million Madam’s Bank Road scheme which I announced in September. The road is a key part of the North Western Key Transport Corridor connecting Belfast to Londonderry City and on to Donegal. The Madam’s Bank scheme is on target and on schedule to be completed in January 2012."

During his visit to the city the Minister met with the ILEX Chief Executive Aideen McGinley to discuss the overall regeneration programme for Londonderry.

Notes to editors:

1. The INTERREG IVA Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland is a European Union supported Structural Funds Programme which seeks to address the economic and social problems which result from the existence of borders. It supports strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region.

The INTERREG IVA Programme continues INTERREG IIIA’s strong focus on Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. However, the eligible area now also includes Western Scotland. INTERREG IVA assists two categories of projects:

   i. Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland projects, as before;

   ii. Tripartite projects that involve Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland, and Western Scotland.

Every project will, therefore, have a Northern Ireland and Border Region of Ireland, element.

2. Media queries to the Department for Regional Development, Press Office, Tel: 028 9054 0004. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440