Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, the Minister said: “Construction of the Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway has been progressing and is on schedule for completion towards the end of 2010. The realignment schemes on the A4 Annaghilla and A5 Tullyvar are scheduled for completion in late 2009."
The Minister said work is expected to commence on the A29 Carland Bridge project during August 2009.
Mr Murphy said:"Work on the delivery of the A5 Western Transport Corridor project is continuing to progress at pace. Following my announcement of the preferred corridor in November 2008 our consultants, Mouchel, carried out a more detailed assessment of the lands within the corridor and proposed four possible routes for the new road. Public consultation days were held at various locations along the route during February and I expect to announce a Preferred Route this summer.”
The Minister welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Borough last year. He said: "This year’s allocation for structural maintenance will allow a number of major trunk road resurfacing schemes such as resurfacing of the A5 Ballymacilroy Climbing Lane, A4 Dugannon Road at Ballyreagh and A45 Ballynakelly road, Coalisland, to proceed this financial year."
Road Service’s Divisional Roads Manager Pat Doherty welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough area, which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures and safer routes to schools.
He said: “Significant schemes which will be taken forward in the Borough this year include, an extended right turning lane at the Gortmerron Link Road approach to the Moy Road, provision of a right tuning lanes at the Tullycullion Road/ Tullydraw road junction, traffic calming measures at Newmills. B43 Mullagmore Road, Dungannon and Gortgonis Road / Platters Hill, Coalisland. Safer Routes to Schools projects will be carried out at Windmill PS, Dungannon, Fivemiletown PS and St Joseph’s PS, Caledon.
Mr Doherty highlighted some of the local transport and safety measures already completed in 2008/09. These included a collision remedial scheme at A45 Ballynakilly Road, Coalisland, traffic calming at Donagmore, Killyman Road/ Killymeal Road, Dungannon, provision of a safer routes to school project at Bush PS, the introduction of a pelican crossing at Colebrooke Road, Fivemiletown, road realignment and bridge replacement at Murley Road near Fivemiletown, provision of right turning lanes and footway/ cycleway at Killeeshil Crossroads, a right turning lane at Moy Road / Old Moy Road, Dungannon, bridge replacement at Metal Bridge, Lisgorran, Clogher and a sightline improvement at Annaghmore Road, Washingbay Road, Coalisland.
Mr Doherty said: “Particular mention should be made of the work carried out in a number of Coalisland estates where generous partnership funding by DSD under Neighbourhood Renewal allowed substantial renewal of the street lighting in these areas."
Roads Service has also been in consultation with local government representatives on matters arising from the Review of Public Administration. These included the details of functions to be transferred to local government in 2011 and the arrangements to allow the new councils to influence roads programmes.
Notes to Editors
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