Delivering a speech at the all-island Transport Ireland Conference in Dublin, Mr Murphy said: “Over the past decade, the number of licensed vehicles on this island has risen by over 50% to over £3.25million. The Executive in the north recognises the need to improve significantly our transportation infrastructure which is why we are planning record amounts of investment in the area for many years to come.”
The Minister outlined planned investment in both roads and public transport. He said: “The recently agreed Investment Strategy covering the 10 year period to 2018 has indicated an investment of £3.1billion in roads infrastructure and from this I intend to direct around £2.5billion to the Strategic Road Network.
“This year, more than £470million of works will be on the ground in the north, including major dualling schemes on the A4, between Dungannon and Ballygawley, and on the A1 at Newry, between Beech Hill and Cloghogue. This latter scheme will provide the final piece of dualling on the Belfast to Dublin corridor.”
Plans to dual substantial sections of the A6 between Belfast and Derry and the A2 from Derry to the City of Derry Airport, are now well advanced.
Consultants are currently considering a number of options for a 30km stretch of the A6 between Derry and Dungiven and it is anticipated that a preferred route will be announced in the middle of 2009, while public inquiries have been held on a 15km stretch between Randalstown and Castledawson. When these schemes are completed some 75% of the route between Belfast and Derry will be either motorway or dual carriageway.
The Minister said: “Furthermore, in conjunction with the Government’s decision here to make £400million available for road improvements in the north, my Department will be providing dual carriageway standard roads on the 88km long Western Corridor, running from Derry to the border at Aughnacloy and also on the remaining 14km single carriageway stretch of the Eastern Seaboard Corridor, between Belfast and Larne.”
Mr Murphy also mentioned two major schemes to improve connections on the Belfast to Dublin Corridor, a flyover scheme at Lisburn, joining the A1 to the M1, and a flyover scheme at the M2 / Westlink junction in Belfast, which is the last remaining part of the Westlink. These schemes will alleviate the potential bottlenecks that can occur during peak hours, thus further enhancing this primary trade route.
The Minister said: “Even with our planned investment of over £3billion in the next 10 years to 2018, congestion is still likely to rise. To me, that suggests we need a step-change in the way we tackle rising traffic.
“We need to move away from the ‘predict and provide’ transport planning philosophy of the past. The planned development and proper maintenance of our road network must be seen as only part of an integrated transport strategy.
“Only by providing adequate levels of investment can we create a quality public transport network that will encourage motorists to abandon their cars and take the bus or train in significant enough numbers to reduce commuting times and benefit business and the economy.
“Public transport is not just for commuters. While 26% of households in the North now have two cars, another 26% of households has no car. Public transport is a necessity for many to get to work, to school, to the doctor, to the shops or simply to visit family and friends. ”
The Minister outlined investment planned in public transport through the Budget and the Investment Strategy:
- £45million over the next three years for a further 290 new buses;
- £137million for rail over the next three years for 20 new trains, a track life extension project on the rail line between Ballymena and Coleraine, a complete track relay between Coleraine and Derry, an upgrade of the rail track between Lisburn and Lurgan, and a new station at Newry to be complete in 2009;
- a further £319million for rail and £111million for bus over the following ten years to 2018; and
- £111million for a pilot rapid transit network for Belfast.
The Minister added: “Investment is essential in underpinning a successful economy. This has not always been recognised by governments in the past and our Investment Strategy has been developed to face the challenges of not just addressing the current infrastructure deficit but also addressing the demands of continuing traffic growth.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The conference examined issues around the development of a modern and sustainable transport system for Ireland encompassing transport policy and planning; infrastructure development and public transport. The conference was organised by bmf Business Services on an all-island basis, with the support of the IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council.
2. Other speakers in the same session are Maurice Mullen, Assistant Secretary, Department of Transport.
3. The £3.1billion capital investment in the North’s road network will be targeted primarily at the Key Transport Corridors (KTCs). These roads are the main transport network of the region and connect all the main centres of economic and social activity. Improvements to KTCs will act as a catalyst for economic growth and will be the primary means of obtaining a reduction in journey times on the Strategic Road Network.
4. Included within the £3.1billion is a £400million contribution from the government in the South to help fund major roads programmes providing dual carriageway standard on routes within the North on the Western Corridor (A5 Derry to Aughnacloy) and the Eastern Seaboard Corridor (A8 Belfast to Larne). The Executive has confirmed its acceptance, in principle, to taking forward these two major road projects and Consultants have been commissioned to develop preferred route options for both.
5. During the Budget 2008-11 period, Roads Service will continue to progress two Public Private Partnership (PPP) programmes. The first package (total value of approximately £137m) has already seen the opening of new slip roads from Antrim Area Hospital onto the M2 and the new grade separated junction at Westlink. Widening of the M1/Westlink and M2 will be completed in 2009.
6. Plans to dual substantial sections of the A6 between Belfast and Derry and also the A2 from Derry to the City of Derry Airport are well advanced, as is a proposal to widen the A2 to four lanes at Greenisland. It is anticipated that these projects will also be delivered within the lifetime of the 10 year Investment Strategy.
7. Consultants have already been engaged on the A5 Western Corridor and the A8 Belfast to Larne dualling projects. The A8 improvements will further enhance the link from the Port of Larne to Belfast and Dublin. The A5, the largest single road scheme to be undertaken here, will provide significant benefits to the North West by improving the linkages to and from Dublin and will greatly improve journey times. This will greatly enhance the potential for economic growth and development in the region.
8. The Investment Delivery Plan embraces a wide range of Strategic Road Improvements across the north with twelve new schemes brought into the programme. Bypasses of Enniskillen, Fivemiletown and Ballykelly will relieve congestion in urban centres and improvements to strategic junctions at Sandyknowes, Westlink/York Street, M1/Blacks Road, Sprucefield and the A1 will target bottlenecks on the network and improve safety.
9. Future investment on bus related projects of £45million is planned over the next three years. This includes the acquisition of a further 290 new buses in order to help achieve average fleet age of 8 years in line with Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) targets, and to increase capacity in the Belfast area in order to sustain passenger growth.
10. On rail, the Department will be funding investment of some £137million over the next three years. This will go towards:
- the acquisition of 20 new trains, including 13 replacements for rolling stock which is life expired. There will also be seven additional trains which will be used to increase capacity and improve services on the network.
- a track life extension project on the rail line between Ballymena and Coleraine at an estimated cost of around £12million .
- a complete track relay between Coleraine and Derry, currently estimated to cost around £64million .
- the upgrade of the rail track between Lisburn and Lurgan, estimated to cost approximately £40million .
- a new station at Newry which it is hoped will be complete in 2009 at a cost of around £14.6million .
11. Media queries to Press Office, Tel 028 9054 0887. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
