Northern Ireland Roads Minister Conor Murphy yesterday visited the site where the new £152 million A1 Beech Hill to Cloghogue dual carriageway is being constructed around Newry, Co Down.

The visit was arranged so the Minister could see, first hand, the work being undertaken to construct this Strategic Road Improvement Scheme on the Belfast to Dublin Road.

He said: "This major scheme will complete the dualling of the main Belfast to Dublin road and will deliver reduced congestion, better journey times and improved safety."

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The project forms part of Roads Service's Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) - Package 2 contract awarded to Amey Lagan Roads Limited and announced by the Minister in December 2007.

Construction work is being carried out by a joint venture of Lagan Construction Limited and Ferrovial Agroman (Ireland) Limited.

The contract also includes construction of two overbridges and two underpasses on the A1 between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland; the A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway scheme; and single carriageway realignments of the A4 at Annaghilla and A5 at Tullyvar.

The DBFO Package is supported by the Strategic Investment Board and is included within the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, a sustainable programme of capital investment in transport, education, health, housing and water over the next ten years.

(VB)