Work on the Newbuildings to Strabane section of the A5 in Northern Ireland is expected to start before the end of this year, according to the Department of Infrastructure.

Sinn Fein MLA Michaela Boyle welcomed the announcement.

She said: "Departmental officials confirmed they are continuing to 'expedite delivery of this strategically important project' and expect to complete the vesting of land and begin construction on the Newbuildings to Strabane section of the road before the end of the calendar year.

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"This is clearly in line with the explicit instructions of then Minister Chris Hazzard before leaving post and the A5's status as a flagship executive project for which £229 million has been committed.

"Of course there is always the potential for legal challenges in projects of this scale but I believe if any such challenge was to materialise at this stage, it would represent a gross attempt to subvert the will and interests of people of this region."

(CD/LM)