Final designs for the new A5 dual carriageway will be published next year, the Stormont Roads Minister has said.

Conor Murphy said talks were continuing with local landowners, following the announcement of the preferred corridor in July.

Mr Murphy said the works will be the key scheme affecting the Strabane district over the next few years.

"This scheme is very important in terms of providing a safer road network and opening up the area for business opportunity," he said.

Outlining the progress on a £4.6m trunk of work for the area, Minister Murphy said around 650 metres of road realignment of the B49 Berryhill Road between Strabane and Artigarvan is scheduled to begin later this month.

-- Advertisement --

"This scheme will provide a widened carriageway with improved sight distance over this busy section of road south of Artigarvan."

The cost of this scheme is £350,000.

"The provision of a verge on the A5 Victoria Road at Bready corner is currently underway with the demolition of several buildings which were very close to the edge of the road," he said.

The Minister also welcomed that completion of resurfacing of schemes on the C675 Killeter Road at a cost of £105,000 and the C679 Drumnabey Road at a cost of £35,000 along with the commencement of the resurfacing of 1.4kms of the A5 Mulvin Road.

Schemes still to be completed this financial year include junction visibility splay improvements at Maghernageeragh Road and McNally Park Killeter, a footway and visibility improvements at Drumlegagh Crossroads and the replacement of the bridge on Taboe Road near Donemana."

(PR/BMcC)