Transport Minister Conor Murphy has welcomed NI Roads Service's progress on planned investment totalling £2.85million in the Magherafelt District Council area this year.

The Minister said: "Roads Service is committed to ensuring that it can make best use of our resources and continue to deliver quality public services."

Referring to the proposed Magherafelt By-Pass the Minister said: "The Direction Order for the scheme became operative on 25 October 2010. This confirms the line of the new road in legislation. In relation to the Environmental Statement the Department's Notification of Intention to Proceed was published in the local press week ending 17 September 2010."

Commenting on the A6 dualling between Randalstown and Castledawson Roundabout, the Minister said: "Roads Service is currently preparing contract documents for the scheme and work is programmed to start late in 2011 subject to the availability of finance. A planning application and draft Vesting Order will soon be published to develop the proposals for the Annaghmore and Bellshill Road connection to the A6 at Castledawson."

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The Minister noted that improvement works are nearing completion at Mill Engines Bridge Upperlands.

He said: "This scheme costing approximately £350,000 involves replacing the old bridge together with minor road realignment. The scheme reopened to traffic on 29 October 2010.

"In addition a traffic calming scheme has been completed at Queens Avenue, Magherafelt and over three kilometres of asphalt resurfacing has been completed so far in the District this year, with further resurfacing work programmed for completion by the end of the year."

Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty said: "A wide range of local schemes have been successfully planned and delivered in the Magherafelt District in the past 12 months.

"The ever tightening public expenditure environment in this current year is challenging. Despite this, I remain committed to developing a programme of high priority road improvement and maintenance schemes for the District; so that these can be delivered as resources permit."

(GK/BMcC)