Speaking ahead of this evening's meeting between Roads Service and Omagh District Council, the Minister said: "A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year. While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services.”
The Minister noted the ongoing work on the A5 Western Transport Corridor. He said : “Development of the project was continuing apace and that it was on schedule for the publication of the Draft Statutory Orders and Environmental Statement in the autumn of this year."
The Minister also commented on the A32 Omagh to Enniskillen route. “Roads Service is developing a number of improvement schemes along the A32. I am please to note that a significant realignment scheme at Shannaragh, Dromore is well advanced and could commence in 2012. ”
Other schemes which were carried out in the year include a realignment of a section of the Whitebridge Road, new footways on the Old Clanabogan Road, Cavanacaw, Letfern Road, Tattyreagh, Tullyneil Road, Sixmilecross, bridge replacements at Minadinna Road, Carrickmore and Tursallagh Bridge, Sixmilecross, Traffic calming measures have also been introduced at Mountfield, Fintona and Hospital Road Omagh. Measures to upgrade traffic signal equipment have also been installed at Market Street/ Drumragh Avenue and at Great Northern Road/ Tamlaght Road, Omagh.
In total 35 kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced, the most significant schemes include the A5 Beltany Road, Omagh at Lislimnaghan, A5 Beltany Road Omagh, at Killynure and A32 Clanabogan Road, Omagh at Clanabogan.
Speaking at the meeting, Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty welcomed the continued investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter. He said: “Three major trunk road resurfacing schemes to be carried out this year will be 1.7km of the A32 Omagh Road, Dromore at Shannaragh, 0.9km of the A5 Beltany Road, Omagh at Beltany Grove and 0.6 km of the Ballygawley Road at Augher Point.
“Work has started on the provision of a shared pedestrian / cycle facility on the Glenpark Road at Gortnagarn and adjacent to Omagh Throughpass from Brookmount Road to Derry Road in Omagh and I welcome the ongoing cooperation of the residents of these areas while this important work contributing to sustainable transport is in progress. I am also pleased to confirm that the road realignment on the A32 at Mullaghbane is nearing completion”
Roads Service also presented the Council with a programme for local transport and safety measures, which is currently being developed for the area. These projects, which include traffic calming in Seskinore and Safer Routes to School measures at Gortnagarn Primary School, Omagh High School, Dromore Primary School and St. Dympna’s Primary school, Dromore which will be delivered as resources permit.
Notes to editors:
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