Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s meeting between Roads Service and Derry City Council, the Minister said: “Work has commenced on two major schemes on the North Western Key Transport Corridor. The 2 kilometre £4.5million Skeoge Link will complete the strategic route from Foyle Bridge through to Buncrana Road and on to Donegal, and remove through traffic from Glengalliagh Road. The 1.2 kilometre £1.6million Crescent Link dualling (Phase 3) will provide a continuous dual carriageway from Altnagelvin Roundabout, across the Foyle Bridge to the Culmore Roundabout. When complete it will also unlock further housing and industrial development of the area.”
“Other schemes which will be taken forward in the Derry City Council area include the realignment of the bends on the C508 Ardmore Road just south of Tullyally to improve the forward sight distance; the realignment of the Mullennan Road / Letterkenny Road junction to improve the visibility sight lines ; and the commencement of the construction of Park footbridge to cater for pedestrians and cyclists in Park village,” said Mr Murphy.
Road Service’s Principal Engineer, Deidre Mackle welcomed the continued high level of investment in local transport and safety measures in the Derry City Council area, which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures, safer routes to schools and controlled pedestrian crossings.
Ms Mackle 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 while planning to restructure in line with the outcome of the Review of Public Administration.”
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 Republic of Ireland National Development Plan 2007-2013, contains proposals on the inter-urban routes linking the main population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the North West.
Ms Mackle added: “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.
“Despite these challenges, Roads Service will continue to concentrate on scheme delivery in Derry City 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.”
Ms Mackle also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes already completed in 2006/07. These included the completion of the widening schemes on Glendermott Road and Woodside Road; the installation of the variable message signs for the Foyle Bridge Management System; the completion of the Galliagh Phase 3 traffic calming scheme; and a range of traffic calming measures under the Safer Routes to Schools programme at various locations throughout the city.
Notes to Editors:
Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 02890 540372.
