Magherafelt town centre.
Construction of a new bypass for Magherafelt in Co Derry is expected to begin in the New Year, Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has said.
Mr Kennedy was speaking ahead of last night’smeeting between the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and Magherafelt District Council, which heard the Department had invested over £135 million in structural maintenance, improving many miles of road infrastructure across Northern Ireland in the last financial year.
Mr Kennedy added despite ever increasing demands on budgets, DRD invested over £4.7million in delivering a comprehensive range of road schemes and maintenance work in the Magherafelt area,
He said DRD was using its available resources “highly effectively” and would continue to deliver “quality public services”in Magherafelt and across Northern Ireland.
With regard to the A31 Magherafelt bypass the Minister said: “I am pleased to report that the Vesting Order to acquire the lands necessary for Magherafelt bypass became operational on 6 May 2014 and that procurement of the works contract is underway. I would anticipate that the contract will be awarded in December which would allow construction to commence in the new year.”
Highlighting resurfacing schemes, the Minister said: “Road users in the area have quickly realised the benefits of the investment by the Department with the completion of a number of schemes including the resurfacing on the A42 Mayogall Road, Gulladuff and the A6 Glenshane Road, Knockloughrim.”
Previewing the work scheduled in the area over the next year, Mr Kennedy said “DRD’s programme for this financial year includes the realignment of the A29 Desermartin Road, Killytoney, the resurfacing of the A6 Castledawson Bypass and a range of traffic management measures including traffic calming and Safer Routes to Schools projects.”
Speaking at the meeting, Divisional Roads Manager, Conor Loughrey, outlined some of the other significant areas of work completed by the Division including, resurfacing the A31 Church Street, Magherafelt and A54 Ballynease Road, Bellaghy.
Road improvement schemes completed last year included the A31 Castledawson Road, Magherafelt where 3 right turn lanes were provided along with 700 metres of cyclepath.
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