The Stormont Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced an investment of half a million pounds for three new resurfacing schemes for the Cookstown and Magherafelt areas.


The three new resurfacing schemes include a £256,000 investment on the A29 in Moneymore, along Lawford Street and Station Road; a £46,000 scheme on the A505 in Cookstown from the Sweep Road to Westland Road South and the third scheme will see investment of £263,000 on the Coleraine Road in Maghera.



The Minister said: "The announcement will bring the total current scheme investment in the Mid Ulster area to just over £1million.

"The three schemes will further serve people travelling in Mid Ulster and complement the recently completed A29 Doctor's Hill at Moneymore and the resurfacing scheme currently ongoing on the A31 Magherafelt Road between Moneymore and Magherafelt."

The first scheme is the reconstruction of 1.2km of the A29 in Moneymore. This £256,000 scheme is due to commence on the 24 October and is programmed for a period of three weeks. 

In order to complete the works in a safe and efficient manner it will be necessary to close Lawford Street and Station Road to through traffic for the three week period from Monday 24 October to Friday 11 November. During this period a diversion via Magherafelt will be sign posted.

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A second scheme valued at £46,000 is planned for the A505 Drum Rd, Cookstown from Sweep Road to Westland Road South.

Due to traffic and site safety issues at this difficult location a road closure is again deemed necessary. A diversion via Cemetery Road, Church Street to Loughry Roundabout and the Sandholes Road will be in operation for a period of one week between the 14 and 18 November. The diversion will be signposted.

The third scheme will start at Main Street, Maghera and end at the Ballymacilcur Road. This work is programmed to commence on the 14 November and is also expected to take three weeks to complete. A three day diversion via Crewe Road and Station Road is anticipated to facilitate laying the final road surface layer.

 Road users are also advised that a three day closure will be required on the A31 Magherafelt Road between Moneymore and Magherafelt.

This is to facilitate the completion of the £192,000 trunk road resurfacing scheme currently under construction. The closure is scheduled from 19 to 21 October.

Danny Kennedy said: "Roads Service have sought to programme the works so as to avoid any conflicting traffic management arrangement between adjacent schemes. Some disruption to traffic is likely during the works particularly those schemes with diversions in place.

"Traffic volumes on roads along the diversion routes are likely to be greater than normal and the public are asked to be patient and leave more time for their journey."

(LB/BMcC)