Roads Minister Danny Kennedy has officially opened the A32 Cherrymount Link Road scheme.

The scheme provides a strategic link between the approaches to Enniskillen, from Omagh and Belfast.

Comprising two kilometres of trunk road, the scheme connects the existing Cherrymount roundabout on the A32 to the north of Enniskillen with the B80 Tempo Road to the southeast of the town.

Mr Kennedy said: "This strategic road scheme represents a major investment in Fermanagh by my Department of over £16million.

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"It will greatly help the flow of traffic around Enniskillen and improve road safety conditions. As well as easing congestion at Gaol Square junction and helping to reduce journey times, it also provides more convenient and quicker access to and from the South West Acute Hospital.

"The completion of the road, well ahead of the G8 Summit, will significantly help with the expected increase in the volume of traffic around Enniskillen later this month."

Completion of the scheme was delayed by around six months after a crannog was uncovered.

The Minister said: "I was content to approve several extensions to the dig period because I recognised the historical importance of the crannog. I wanted to ensure that the feature had been excavated and recorded to the satisfaction of the senior archaeologists responsible for directing the dig. The archaeological field crew managed to excavate the crannog to a depth of seven metres and recovered some 5,000 artefacts."

(CD/MH)