A6 Randalstown to Castledawson dualling scheme

The project will upgrade 14.7 kilometres of the A6 North Western Transport Corridor between Randalstown and Castledawson to dual carriageway.

News

The full 14.7km of the Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Flagship Infrastructure scheme fully opened to traffic on 29 May 2021. This is a landmark date following four years of construction and many more years of scheme preparation, consultation, development and design.

The Minister, Nichola Mallon MLA, visited the site on 28 May 2021 to celebrate the completion of works and meet a few of the many people who contributed to its delivery.

Mallon opens £189million A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Scheme

The scheme construction website holds detailed and up to date information and is available at:

a6rcdualling.co.uk

Scheme summary

Cost - £189m
Length - 14.7 kilometres
Type - Dual carriageway
Status - In Construction

Key dates

March 2007 - Draft statutory orders published
November 2007 - Public Inquiry Held
May 2011 - Direction Order and the Environmental Statement confirmed; the Vesting Order will remain in Draft until funding for the scheme has been confirmed.
December 2014 - Planning Application granted for Annaghmore Bellshill alternative junction; objections received.
January 2015 - Draft vesting order published for Annaghmore Bellshill alternative junction; objections received.
May 2015 - Contract awarded to GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture.
September 2015 - Public inquiry into draft vesting order for Annaghmore Bellshill alternative junction.
August 2016 - Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard announced his decision to proceed with the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Scheme Vesting Order.
October 2016 - Preliminary works commenced
June 2017 - Main construction commenced
4 August 2019 - Randalstown to Toome section opened to traffic
12 September 2019 - Randalstown to Toome section was formally opened Press Release
22 November 2020 - The Toome to Castledawson section opened to traffic Press Release
29 May 2021 - The whole A6 Randalstown Castledawson scheme opened to traffic

Scheme description

A6 Randalstown Castledawson - location on North Westsern Corriodor The A6 Randalstown to Castledawson is part of the important North Western Transport Corridor, connecting Belfast and the North West via Toome, Maghera and Dungiven.

The project is in two parts; 7.3 kilometres between Randalstown and Toome and 7.4 kilometres between Toome and Castledawson.

Scheme Benefits

High quality transport links such as the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Scheme are the vital arteries of today’s most successful economies, delivering direct benefits such a improved safety, journey time reductions and reliability. Furthermore some of the Wider Economic Benefits include;

powering competitive advantage in business
facilitating inward investment,
reducing social isolation
improving integration, and
linking people to an expanding world of information, services and opportunity.

The investment in efficient, reliable, competitive and sustainable infrastructure networks is critical in delivering the Departments priority of growing a dynamic and innovative economy.

Scheme detail

A6 Randalstown to Castledawson - animated flythrough video

Updated June 2021