A6 Toome to Castledawson dualling scheme

The scheme would lead traffic onto a 7.4 kilometre long dual carriageway, constructed between Toome and Castledawson. It starts about a ½ kilometre east of Creagh roundabout, and continues part offline and part online to the Castledawson roundabout.

A6 Toome Castloedawson location on North West Transport Corridor The existing single carriageway, Hillhead Road between The Creagh and the western end of the Castledawson Bypass, would be retained to provide local access to The Creagh and the surrounding area.

DfI Roads has carried out extensive research and consultation to ensure that the new dual carriageway between Toome and Castledawson does not upset the ecologically important wetlands around Lough Beg. These wetlands are nationally and internationally protected and regularly support over 20,000 waterfowl including over wintering Whooper Swans and Bewick's Swans. The Whooper Swan feeding habitat, affected by the road, is entirely outside the nationally and internationally protected wetlands and measured against the vast Lough Neagh and Lough Beg wetland, the area lost is very tiny.

Project Documents

Scheme Assessment Reports

DfI Roads has carried out a comprehensive appraisal of the scheme. Three reports have been prepared; the level of detail and coverage of the report is appropriate to the type of decision that can reasonably be taken at each stage.

Environmental statement

An environmental statement is a detailed report on the findings of an environmental impact assessment carried out on the proposed scheme. In particular it describes, assesses and gives weight to the predicted environmental effects (adverse and beneficial) the scheme would have and details the measures proposed to reduce or eliminate those effects.

A6 Toome to Castledawson - environmental statement

Statutory Orders

Before construction of a stategic road improvement scheme can proceed, DfI Roads must make a number of statutory orders and seek approval of an environmental impact assessment.

Publication of Draft Statutory Orders

DfI Roads published Draft Statutory Orders (Trunk Road Order and Vesting Order) and an environmental statement for the proposed scheme on Wednesday 12 March 2007.

A6 Toome to Castledawson - publication of draft Statutory Orders

Public Inquiry

Given the nature of the proposals and the likelihood that a number of the objections to the draft orders and environmental statement could not be resolved, the Minister for Infrastructure approved the holding of a Public Inquiry to give objectors, supporters, DfI Roads and others a fair opportunity to be heard and to question the case for and against the dual carriageway proposal.

A6 Toome to Castledawson - Public inquiry

Inspector's report, Departmental statement and confirmed Orders

After considering the Inspector’s Report, the Department published its Statement on the Inspector’s Report.

Community Involvement

DfI Roads recognises the importance of community information events in the development of major road schemes and holds exhibitions at key stages to inform and to facilitate community involvement in its decision making process.

A6 Toome to Castledawson - community involvement

Photogallery

Contains photographs of the existing and proposed road.

Construction

The A6 Toome to Castledawson Dualling is being taken forward as part of the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling contract.