Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has congratulated Roads Service and its contractors for the successful completion of the 2010/2011 programme of works and welcomed the planned £5.9 million for structural road maintenance in Fermanagh District this year.

Speaking ahead of this evening's meeting between Roads Service and Fermanagh District Council, the Minister said: "Despite last year’s reduced budget for local transport and safety measures, a good range of such schemes has been successfully delivered by Roads Service.

“While the tightening public expenditure environment is due to continue, Roads Service is using its available resources effectively and continuing to deliver quality public services," said Mr Kennedy.

Speaking on strategic road improvements, Mr Kennedy was pleased to announce that "funding for a completion contract for the A32 Cherrymount Link Road has been secured and works are programmed for delivery and completion before the end of the 2012-2013 financial year".

The Minister said: "Roads Service is continuing to progress the design of a number of carriageway improvement schemes along the A32, Enniskillen to Omagh route. Advance works on the first of these has already commenced at Drumskinny and completion of this section will be delivered before the end of the current financial year. The first of the off-line realignments will be at Shannaragh and it is intended to commence works there in December 2011 and to complete the works in 2012."

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Mr Kennedy welcomed the opening of the new £150 million A4 dual carriageway between the M1 and Ballygawley. "The A4 dualling along with the realignment schemes at Annaghilla and Tullyvar will benefit Fermanagh district in terms of safety and shortened journey times to and from Belfast. This project is the most significant development of the road network in Western Division to date and it has been very well received by the travelling public and elected representatives."

The Minister also welcomed Roads Service’s proposed programme for the year ahead including major trunk road resurfacing schemes on the A4 Dublin Road and the A4 Wellington Road at Enniskillen both of which are currently under way. There are also schemes to follow on A32 Forthill St, A32 Irvinestown Road at Cherrymount – Cross and on A46 near the border at Belleek.

Speaking at the meeting, Divisional Roads Manager Mr Pat Doherty welcomed the continued investment in road maintenance, which is helping to rectify the damage caused by the severe weather conditions last winter.

He said: “In the Fermanagh District, £7.2 million was spent on Structural Maintenance during 2010/11. 88% of this spend was on the District’s minor route network. The year end figures showed a substantial increase in the initial budget of £4.5 million. In total 30.04 kilometres of carriageway were resurfaced, the most significant schemes being the A4 Belfast Road at Cavanagarvan, A4 Belfast Road at Dromard, A32 Irvinestown Road at Chanterhill, B82 Killadeas Road, A46 Lough Shore Road at Carrickreagh and B108 Moher Road.”

Other significant projects completed include the new bridge and road realignment on the A509 Thompsons Bridge, Derrylin, a right turning lane at Frith’s Pass, Enniskillen, completion of the road realignment and change of priorities at Main Street, Maguiresbridge and a new pelican crossing at Wellington Road at Paget Square, Enniskillen.

Roads Service also presented the Council with a programme for the 2011/2012 local transport and safety measures, bridge strengthening and street lighting schemes in the District. Significant schemes in the programme the provision of an additional lane on the Dublin Road, Enniskillen between the junctions of Old Tempo Road and Wickham Link Road, the provision of a right turning lane on the A4 Sligo Road at Rossory Link Road, provision of a footway at Majors Bridge on the Maguiresbridge Road, Lisnaskea.

(GK/KMcA)