Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has secured almost £500million investment in road infrastructure, balanced across Northern Ireland, with the potential to create an estimated 2,500 jobs over four years.

The revised budget means that over the next four years Roads Service can bring forward significant elements of the A5 dual carriageway project, between Londonderry and Strabane, and Omagh and Ballygawley, along with the A8 Belfast to Larne project and a scheme to dual the A2 Shore Road at Greenisland.

The Minister said: "Following a series of meetings with Executive colleagues and work by Departmental officials, I have reviewed spending priorities across my Department and I am now in a position to bring forward a balanced programme of improvements to our strategic road network over the next four years, that will make a significant difference to the people of Northern Ireland.

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"This investment will provide a significant boost to the local economy and help to encourage inward investment. It will provide job security for many and create, much needed, jobs in the construction industry, across environmental and engineering consultancies, suppliers, contractors, infrastructure specialists and others. It will also offer opportunities for the long-term unemployed, apprentices and students."

The A5 and A8 are two of five key transport corridors indentified in the Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland. These improvements will dual key transport corridors; improving road safety and reduce journey times.

The A5 and A8 dual carriageway schemes have been taken forward as a result of an agreement between the Executive and the Irish Government. The Irish Government's decision to defer further funding for these schemes, with a commitment to provide £25million per annum in 2015 and 2016, has required a re-evaluation of the roads programme in the current Budget period. Development of the A5 beyond this period is being considered through the structures of the North South Ministerial Council.

(CD/GK)