A2 Buncrana Road, Londonderry - overview | Department for Infrastructure

DfI Roads initially progressed this scheme attaining approval for the preferred route through the publication of the stage 2 scheme assessment report in 2009, but was not progressed further due to lack of funding. In December 2016 the then Minister for the Department, Chris Hazzard, announced a stimulus package and funding was made available to recommence scheme development with a view to taking it forward to publication of draft statutory orders and Environmental Statement.

Need for scheme

A2 Buncrana Congestion

Buncrana Road is a busy 4.4km long two lane arterial road in Londonderry, connecting the city to County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland (RoI). The 3km urban section from Pennyburn roundabout to Skeoge roundabout carries up to 24,000 vehicles per weekday (2017 survey) with congestion at peak periods and even at other times throughout the day. The 1.4km rural section from Skeoge roundabout to the Border with the Republic of Ireland carries up to 19,600 vehicles per weekday (2017 survey).

The proposed scheme will provide a four lane road between Pennyburn roundabout and Skeoge roundabout, a dual carriageway between Skeoge roundabout and Elagh Business Park.

The proposed scheme

The proposed road improvement will deliver a greatly improved level of service on this important arterial route serving the western suburbs of Londonderry and cross border to County Donegal. It will deliver improved traffic progression, improved road safety for strategic and local road users and will facilitate further expansion of local housing and industry.

A2 Buncrana scheme overview

A2 Buncrana Road Dualling update

“On 5 April 2023 the Department decided to pause the development of the scheme until the RTS is completed and the Northwest Transport Plan is well enough developed to allow a high quality design to be advanced that fully aligns with the holistic multi modal transport approach for the city, including any linkages to City deal projects.”

Further information on the press release can be found at the following link Update on the A2 Buncrana Road Improvement Scheme

On 8 May 2018 the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads presented updated proposals to upgrade the A2 Buncrana Road between the Pennyburn Roundabout and the border with the Republic of Ireland.

The A2 Buncrana Road is a key link in the North West of the city which serves as the main corridor from the city centre to significant industrial and residential areas as well as a link to County Donegal. The proposed road improvement scheme will assist the economic regeneration of the city and surroundings and will help facilitate future development.

The aims of the proposed scheme are to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion and support the use of more sustainable transport modes.

The proposal includes an upgrade of the existing 4.1km single carriageway to dual carriageway standard with six major all-movement junctions at the following locations:

Pennyburn Roundabout;
Racecourse Road;
Springtown Road;
Branch Roundabout;
Skeoge Roundabout; and
Elagh Business Park.

This updated proposal includes the provision of a physical central median between Pennyburn Roundabout and Skeoge Roundabout thus preventing right turning movements into and out of intermediate junctions and accesses. Left-in left-out access is provided at the majority of the intermediate junctions and minor accesses with a diversion via the adjacent major all-movement junctions.

The rural section between Skeoge Roundabout and Elagh Business Park will also be upgraded to a 4 lane dual carriageway and have a central reserve installed to prevent right turning movements.

More details are included in the scheme documents and consultation materials from the Public Exhibition held on 8 May 2018 in Da Vinci’s Hotel, Culmore Road, Derry/Londonderry.

Public Information Event - 26 March 2019

The Department for Infrastructure is holding a public information event on Tuesday 26 March from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm in Da Vinci’s Hotel, Culmore Road, Derry/Londonderry and is inviting the public and interested bodies to drop in and view the latest proposals.

Further information is available at: Buncrana Road Press Release

2019 Public Information event - Scheme Documents

2018 Public Information event - Scheme documents

Updated February 2024

A2 Buncrana Road, Londonderry - scheme information

A2 Buncrana Road, Londonderry - overview