Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Cookstown District Council, the Minister said: “Design work on the proposed Cookstown bypass is progressing well. A public consultation event was held in January of this year and feedback from this, together with on-going design work will facilitate a further public information event to announce the preferred route alignment later this financial year.”
Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Cookstown area last year and said: “This year’s increased allocation will allow a larger number of resurfacing schemes to proceed on local roads this financial year which includes the B161 Mullanahoe Road, the C612 Orritor Road and the B161 Drumenny Road.”
Road Service’s Divisional Roads Manager Pat Doherty also welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Cookstown Council 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 Cookstown Council area this year include: the provision of a footbridge at Ballinderry; sightline improvement at the B160 Sherrigrim Road Blacktown Road junction, Stewartstown; sightline improvement at the B160/ C564 Ballynargan Road, Ballymaquire Road, Stewartstown and traffic calming schemes are planned at Northland Road / Drive, Moneymore and at Princess Avenue / Milburn area of Cookstown. Safer Routes to Schools projects will be implemented at St Mary’s Primary School, Dunamore and Orritor Primary School. The replacement of Drumeen Bridge at Churchtown will also be carried out.”
Mr Doherty highlighted some of the schemes already completed in 2008/09. These included: sightline improvements at C636 Roughan Road at the Tullagnbeg Road Junction; a footway at Cloughfin Road, Killeenan; and speed control measures were introduced in the Stewart Avenue/ Cooke Crescent areas of Cookstown. Safer Routes to School projects were also completed at Donaghey Primary School and at St Patrick’s Primary School, Loup.
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:
Media queries to: Anne Burke, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 028 9054 0007.
