CONCERNS have been raised about traffic jams on a newly opened stretch of the £185 million road scheme between Derry and Belfast.
The 7km stretch of the A6 between Toome and Randalstown is part of a project designed to reduce travel times between the two cities.
The old A6 route, which ran along a section of the Moneynick Road near Toome, was a notorious bottleneck and motorists were regularly forced to endure long delays.
The new stretch of road, which was officially opened on Thursday, came into use last month and minor restrictions which remained in place were lifted this week.
Despite being designed to free up traffic queues up to half a mile long have clogged up the new dual carriageway on the approach to Drumderg roundabout, near Toome, in recent days.
There are also lengthy delays from the roundabout into the nearby village.
SDLP councillor Ryan Wilson last night said: “What it has done is move the issue from the Moneynick Road and moved it down the road,” he said.
“We have not resolved anything, all we have done is push the problem down the road.”
Speaking at the official opening of the completed road section yesterday Katrina Godfrey, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Infrastructure said: “The A6 is a strategically important route as it connects the north west to Belfast and beyond.
“The construction of the dualling scheme will contribute to the economic development of the region and bring long-term benefits to road users and local communities.”
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