Speaking ahead of the meeting between Roads Service and Magherafelt District Council, the Minister said: “Work on the A6 dualling between the M22 and Castledawson roundabout continues to make significant progress. It is anticipated that given the satisfactory completion of the statutory orders and the necessary funding that construction work on this project should commence in 2011.
“Progress on the A31 Magherafelt Bypass is also being achieved. A Public Inquiry into the bypass proposal was held earlier this year and it is expected that the Inspector will issue his report within the next four months.
“Other schemes which will be carried out this year include the resurfacing of the A29 Moneymore Road, Desertmartin, the A31 Moneymore Road Magherafelt and the A42 Moyagall Road, Clady along with the extension of the existing car park at Castledawson roundabout to include bus pick up and set down facilities."
Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Magherafelt area last year. He said this year's increased allocation for structural maintenance would allow a larger number of resurfacing schemes to proceed on local roads this financial year.
Road Service’s Divisional Roads Manager Pat Doherty welcomed the planned investment in local transport and safety measures in the Magherafelt Council area, which includes traffic calming, collision remedial, pedestrian measures, cycling measures and safer routes to schools.
Other schemes which will be taken forward in the Magherafelt Council Area this year include sightline improvements at Ballyscullion Lane / Ballynease Road, Bellaghy and Crew Road / Ballymacilcurr Road, Culnady, completion of the footway between Milltown Bridge and Maghera at Craigadick Road and traffic calming in the Queens Avenue/ Princess Avenue / Kirk Avenue areas of Magherafelt.
Roads Service has also been in consultation with local government representatives on matters arising from the Review of Public Administration. These included the details of functions to be transferred to local government in 2011 and the arrangements to allow the new councils to influence roads programmes.
Mr Doherty highlighted some of the schemes already completed in 2008/09. These included resurfacing of the A29 Moneymore Road, Desertmartin, Desertmartin Road at Larrycormick, and Station Road, Maghera, carriageway realignment at the A54 Ballymacombs Road at Smithtown Cross, Bellaghy, vertical realignment of road and provision of footway at Hall Lane / Moyagall Road junction at Gulladuff, an extension to the existing park and share facility on the A6 Glenshane Road at Craigadick , and traffic calming at Leckagh Estate and Killowen Drive in Magherafelt.
Notes to Editors:
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