NI Transport Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed the successful completion of Roads Service's 2009/2010 programme of works and the planned £4.2million for structural road maintenance in the Derry city area this year.

Minister Murphy said: "A range of local schemes have been delivered successfully by Roads Service in the past year. While the tightening public expenditure environment in the year ahead will be challenging, Roads Service remains committed to ensure it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services."

The Minister noted the ongoing work to improve the Northern Transport Corridor with the scheme to dual the A2 Clooney Road between Maydown and City of Derry Airport. He said: "The dualling of the A2 Clooney Road is progressing well with the majority of the earthworks and drainage now complete. The works remain on programme and my Department expects the scheme to be completed in November.

"Good preparatory progress is also being made on other strategic road improvement schemes planned for the Derry City Area. These schemes include the A6 Derry to Dungiven dualling, the upgrading of the A5 Western Corridor between Derry and Aughnacloy and the widening of the A2 Buncrana Road."

-- Advertisement --

Improvement schemes completed in the Derry area in 2009/10 included the realignment of 500m of the C516 Trench Road at its junction with Killymallaght Road, traffic management improvements at the junction of Westland Street/Lonemoor Road including a new double mini-roundabout and improvements to the pedestrian crossing facilities and provision of right turn lanes on the A6 Glenshane Road at Lismacarrol Road/The Belfry which also included the provision of a new footway and safety barrier.

In total 7.9kms of carriageway were resurfaced in the Derry city area at a total cost of £1.02million, the most significant being 270m of the A5 Victoria Road, 800m of the B522 Templemore Road, 540m of the B523 Church Brae and 975m of the C576 Glen Road.

Speaking at the meeting, Uel Wilson, Acting Divisional Roads Manager, noted the completion of Phase 1 and the proposal to increase the size of Culmore Roundabout to introduce traffic signal control to create an efficient signalised roundabout.

It is intended that a contract to complete this scheme will be awarded towards the end of the financial year, subject to funding, although the main bulk of this has already been secured. Consideration is also being given to widen and strengthen Madamsbank Road and if funding is available it is planned to bring forward a scheme for later this year.

He also welcomed the investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe conditions last winter. He said: "A programme of resurfacing works includes works on the Duke Street and Pennyburn Roundabouts and 1.0km of the A5 Victoria Road, which is currently under construction."

Roads Service also presented the Council with a programme for local transport and safety measures, which is currently being developed for the area. These projects, which include traffic calming measures on the Springtown Road, Fort Road and Glen Road, collision remedial measures at Burntollet and pedestrian improvements involving the provision of a new pelican crossing at Rossville Street will be delivered as resources permit.

(NS/KMcA)