Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between Roads Service and Cookstown District Council, the Minister said: “Following the successful completion of the improvement scheme at Westland Road, Cookstown, work will continue this year on the design of the pedestrian footbridge at Ballinderry where it is hoped to purchase the necessary land and also provide a link footway on the Drumeeny Road.”
Roads Service’s Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty, welcomed the continued investment in the Cookstown District Council area and identified a number of other schemes which will be taken forward in the area in the 2007/2008 financial year. These include the provision of a pelican crossing at Molesworth Street, Cookstown, and sightline improvement schemes at Brookend Road/Mullanahoe Road and Killycolpy Road/Mullanahoe Road junctions in Ardboe. A significant resurfacing scheme will also be carried out on the A29 Dungannon Road, Cookstown, at the town boundary.
Mr Doherty said: "Roads Service faces some very significant challenges over the next few years as it gears up to deliver a demanding programme of Strategic Road Improvements.
“The Strategic Road Improvement Programme envisages an investment of £1.4billion in the period up to 2015. Around £1billion of these schemes have already been identified and a consultation on a further £400million of schemes was completed at the end of 2006. In addition, the National Development Plan 2007-2013, contains proposals on the inter-urban routes linking the main population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the North West.
“It is also proposed that the Review of Public Administration will see responsibility for the maintenance and development of local roads, approximately 23,700km of the total 25,000km of public roads, transfer to the seven new councils in May 2009. It is however noted that the Assembly has decided to review this decision.
“Despite these challenges, Roads Service will continue to concentrate on scheme delivery in Cookstown Council area. To minimise the disruption that will arise from our works we will also be making every effort to give motorists advance warning of roadworks through signage and information prior to works. There will be updated information on our website and radio traffic reports.’’
Mr Doherty also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes taken forward in 2006/07. As well as the scheme at Westland Road, Cookstown, where the road was widened, a footway provided and junctions improved, he also highlighted a scheme on the A505 Drum Road at its junction with Flo Road where a right turn lane was provided and significant resurfacing schemes on the A29 at High Street, Moneymore and at Moneymore Road, Cookstown, where again a right turn lane was provided.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies or Michaela Smyth, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 028 90 540887.
