A new flyover junction at Cloghogue, on the A1 Newry bypass, has been officially opened.

Roads Service said the new road junction will provide more capacity in the network, particularly for Belfast and Dublin bound traffic.

"Belfast and Dublin bound traffic will no longer have to negotiate the Cloghogue roundabout, and the new flyover junction will also be of considerable benefit to local traffic entering and leaving Newry," said Roads Minister Conor Murphy, who launched the scheme.

-- Advertisement --

Roads Service, the project company - Amey Lagan Roads and its contractor Lagan Ferrovial have worked on the 40 mph flyover.

The new road layout includes a short section of three-lane carriageway immediately south of the new junction, between Cloghogue and Ellisholding Road.

The A1 Beech Hill to Cloghogue scheme is scheduled to be completed several months ahead of schedule in summer 2010 and is part of the £316m Design, Build, Finance and Operate Package two.

This also includes the A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway scheme, the provision of two flyovers and two underpasses on the A1 between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland and single carriageway realignments to the A4 at Annaghilla and A5 at Tullyvar.

(PR/BMcC)