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Roads Minister announces the preferred route for the Derry to Dungiven By-Pass

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

Roads Minister Conor Murphy today announced the preferred route for the proposed 30 kilometre Derry to Dungiven dual carriageway, including a dual carriageway bypass of Dungiven

Speaking in Dungiven, the Minister said: "This is great news for the people living in the northwest region. I know how much this means for local people who I have met with many times to hear at first-hand their desire to progress this major road development.  Today's announcement is a key milestone in the planning of this major road scheme for the northwest

"Delivering balanced regional infrastructure is a key objective of my Department.  Tackling regional disparities and reversing decades of under investment west of the Bann are vital.  This investment is central to the Executive's priorities for Derry and for the northwest, as a whole, in maximising and realising its full economic potential.

"Selection of the preferred route proved challenging as there are many important environmental features and of course a rich and varied landscape in the northwest. I believe the preferred route is an equitable balance of socio-economic and environmental considerations.

“For the people of Dungiven, their town will be transformed. When the scheme opens, there will be a marked change in traffic through the town, with the bypass eventually removing up to 10,000 vehicles per day. Traffic related pollutants are expected to reduce significantly for many properties in Main Street and beyond. Air quality will improve with pollution dropping below National Air Quality Standards at all locations in Dungiven.

“I can assure the people of Dungiven that we are pressing ahead with this scheme as quickly as possible."

Public exhibitions to inform the public about the preferred route are being held at two venues:

The Dungiven Community Hall, 3 Chapel Road Dungiven on:
Wednesday 6 May from 1.00pm to 9.00pm
Thursday 7 May from 1.00pm to 9.00pm

The YMCA, 51 Glenshane Road, Drumahoe on:
Tuesday 12 May from 1.00pm to 9.00pm
Wednesday 13 May from 1.00 to 9.00pm

Staff from Roads Service and their advisors will be available to answer questions.

Notes to Editors

Preferred Route Details

The preferred route will be a high standard dual carriageway. It will have no private accesses, no central reserve crossovers and the minimum of junctions. This standard of dual carriageway has considerable safety benefits.

The Preferred Route:

  • Begins with a new junction on the A2 Clooney Road, 1.4 kilometres east of the Caw Roundabout.
  • Crosses over the Ardlough Road, River Faughan, and the Mobuoy Road, turning southwest along the east side of the Faughan Valley to Drumahoe.
  • From Drumahoe, it continues parallel to and north of Lismacarol Road to join the existing A6 at The Cross.
  • Continues to Claudy as online dualling (a new carriageway built alongside the existing road), passing through Burntollet where it crosses over the Burntollet River at the existing Burntollet Bridge.
  • East of the Baranailt Road, the preferred route moves just south of the existing A6, passing to the south of Foreglen, Dernaflaw and the Derry GAA Centre of Excellence at Owenbeg.
  • Crosses over the Feeny Road and continues east, crossing over the Owenrigh River, Magheramore Road and the River Roe.
  • Continues north of the River Roe, crossing over Priory Lane and connecting to the existing A6 Glenshane Road east of Dungiven.

Bypassed sections of the existing A6 will become local roads, providing easy access to the many properties and farms along the road. Local and school buses will continue to use the bypassed roads. Some alteration will be required to the local road network:

  • A new junction will connect the new road to the A2 Clooney Road dual carriageway. The A2 Clooney Road will be improved in each direction between this junction and Caw Roundabout.
  • New grade-separated junctions east of Drumahoe, at Tamnaherin Road, Gulf Road, Baranailt Road, Ballyhanedin Road, Killunaught Road and Feeny Road will connect to the local road network.
  • A new roundabout at Chapel Road will provide safe transition from the new dual carriageway road to the existing single carriageway road.

Alternative private means of access from the local road network will be included to ensure continued access to properties and farms.

Timeline

  • March 2005 – Consultant Scott Wilson starts to examine a route strategy for improvement of the A6 between Castledawson Roundabout and Derry.
  • December 2005 – The former Secretary of State Peter Hain, launching the Ilex Regeneration Plan for Derry, confirms the inclusion of the 30 kilometre A6 Dualling Scheme into the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan.
  • February 2007 – Scott Wilson completes examination of the A6 between Castledawson and Derry.
  • July 2007 – Consultants Scott Wilson and Faber Maunsell employed to develop a ‘preferred route’ for the new road.
  • September 2007 – Community Information Events held in Drumahoe and Dungiven informed the public about the preferred corridor for the new road.
  • May 2008 – Community Information Events held in Drumahoe and Dungiven informed the public about possible routes for the new road.
  • May 2009 – Minister announces the preferred route for the new road.
  • Autumn 2010 – Publication of notices in the local press informing that an environmental statement and draft statutory orders have been prepared.
  • 2011 – Hold public inquiry to examine the case for and against the scheme.

General

·The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) guides the development of the north over the next 25 years or so.

·The Regional Transport Strategy (RTS), an RDS daughter document, supports the RDS by aligning transport planning with progress towards achievement of its transportation vision for the north.

·The Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan 2015 (RSTN TP) sets out how the RTS will be implemented and confirms the individual schemes and projects to be implemented (subject to economic assessments, statutory processes and availability of resources) to support the RDS and RTS objectives and targets.

  • Construction of the dual carriageway can only start after the public inquiry process.

For media queries and copy of maps contact Department for Regional Development, Press Office,

Tel 028 9054 0007