Roads Minister Gives Strabane Update

Roads Minister Conor Murphy has spoke of the 'significant progress' made in his department's £4.3m Strabane infrastructure investment.

Meeting with Strabane District Council, the Minister provided an update on the A5 dualling project.

He said: "Work on the A5 Western Key Transport Corridor continues to make significant progress.

"Data to identify primary constraints has been identified and extensive traffic surveys have also been carried out along the route to improve the understanding of traffic volumes and patterns."

Mr Murphy said the scheme is on schedule, and that the preferred corridor would be announced later this month.

"Other schemes which have been completed this financial year include resurfacing work at Fountain Street and Castletown Road in Strabane and Douglas Road, Douglas Bridge along with sightline improvements at Liskey Road/Carrigullen Road, Lisnaragh Road/Glencoppagh Road and Donagheady Road/Victoria Road," said the Minister.


He added: "A substantial resurfacing scheme at A5 Melmount Road South of Sion Mills is well advanced on site."

Road Service's Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty, welcomed the continued investment in local transport and safety measures in the Strabane District Council area.

Mr Doherty said: "Other schemes that will be taken forward in the current financial year include the widening and realignment of the Berryhill Road on the approach to Artigarvan from Strabane, improvements to the road alignment on the A5 at Bready corner and the provision of a pedestrian crossings at Upper Main Street Strabane and in Ballymagorry."

The Roads Service report also contained the draft capital programme for 2009-2010. New schemes include a left turn lane from the A5 Newtownstewart Bypass to the B47 Plumbridge Road and a delivery strategy to consider how Roads Service can work with other parties in providing a pedestrian / cycle river crossing downstream of Bridge Street in Strabane.

(PR/JM)