Significant progress is being made on the £30 million Enniskillen Southern Bypass scheme.

Transport NI are expected to select engineering consultants to take the project forward.

Sinn Féin MLA Sean Lynch welcomed the progress and said an environmental statement will be delivered as well as draft statutory orders to put the bypass in place.

Mr Lynch said: "We have been campaigning for this bypass for many years and the local community in Enniskillen will be pleased with today's positive announcement.

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"Not only would it reduce traffic around the town significantly for the local community but it would also improve travel times for those travelling through."

First Minister Arlene Foster said: "I welcome the progress that has been made on this ambitious project and I have no doubt that this will be very welcome news for the people of Enniskillen and the wider community in County Fermanagh. Once completed, this new road will provide an alternative route for people travelling through and around Enniskillen and will ease traffic around the town by almost 40%. I look forward to seeing this scheme, which represents a very significant investment in the area, move to its next stage during the coming months."

(CD/MH)