The Minister also visited the port in Derry at Lisahally and praised its ongoing success.
Mr Murphy welcomed the construction on two major road schemes – the Skeoge Link and the Crescent Link which will provide significant benefits to all road users within the City.
Work on the £5million dual Skeoge Link to the north of the City, which began in April, will complete the key strategic route from Foyle Bridge through to the Buncrana Road and remove through traffic from the mainly residential Glengalliagh Road. Work also started on the third and final phase of the dualling of Crescent Link, at a cost of £1.5million.
Speaking on site at the Skeogh Link, Mr Murphy highlighted the importance of the new two kilometre dual carriageway. He said: “I am pleased that the new road will provide great benefits to the local people, both living on or near the existing adjacent busy routes and those who will benefit from shorter journey times via this extended strategic road around the northern periphery of the City.”
The new carriageway, to be completed by next spring, will include two roundabouts which will provide access to the proposed housing developments on both sides of the Skeoge Link. Pedestrian and cycling facilities will be included along the entire length of the new road.
Speaking on the Crescent Link, which is part of the North Western Key Transport Corridor connecting Belfast and Derry and on to Donegal, Mr Murphy said: “It is a strategic road link in the city and dualling will also help facilitate further housing, industrial and retail development in the area. This scheme will see the provision of the final stretch of dual carriageway on Crescent Link between Kilfennan Link Roundabout and Altnagelvin Roundabout.”
The dualling of around 1.2 kilometres of this road will include revised traffic movement arrangements at junctions accessing the new dual carriageway. Improved pedestrian and cycling facilities will also be included.
The Minister said: “The completion of the dualling of the Crescent Link and the provision of the new dual carriageway Skeoge Link Road demonstrates my Department’s commitment to the improvement of the Strategic Road Network here, and particularly in the northwest, to facilitate traffic movement around the City as well as to and from Donegal and Belfast."
Speaking during a tour of the port facilities at Lisahally during which he met the Chairman, Garvin O’Doherty, Mr Murphy said: “I congratulate the Port and Harbour Commissioners at Derry upon completion of another record-breaking trading year and overseeing significant growth over the years."
Noting that over the past five years, trade through the port has increased by 56% Mr Murphy said: “The Port in Derry is now a key element of the infrastructure of the north west of Ireland and is helping to underpin the economic development of this region of the island.
“A successful ports industry is crucial to the success of our economy, not only as the main gateways for our imports and exports, but also as catalysts for economic regeneration. I look forward, in my new capacity as Regional Development Minister, to working with all the commercial ports across the North to ensure that their full potential is realised.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, the Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 028 9054 0372.
Crescent Link Notes
- Stage 1 from the Caw Roundabout to the Crescent Link Roundabout totalling 1000m, was completed in early 2004.
- Stage 2 from the Crescent Link Roundabout to Kilfennan Link Roundabout was completed in 2006.
- Extensive consultation was undertaken by Roads Service with local residents, major business representatives, Altnagelvin Hospital Trust, Emergency Services and local elected representatives
regarding the prohibition of turning movements. The scheme is strongly supported by local councillors.
