Improved Roads linking around Londonderry
Roads Service commissioned civil engineering consultants Scott Wilson to examine extant proposals by Roads Service and the National Roads Authority to improve the primary road network approaching Londonderry and to consider how traffic on these proposed roads could best be distributed into and around the city. The study aimed to determine if further road improvements were required and, where appropriate, identify possible solutions.
Consultants Assessment
Building on work carried out during preliminary assessment of the A6 Castledawson to Londonderry corridor, the consultant was able to determine traffic distribution into and around the city. This provided an estimate of traffic likely to use:
(i) a link from the A2 Clooney Road dual carriageway via the A6 at Drumahoe (an integral part of the A6 Londonderry to Dungiven Dualling Scheme) to the A5 at Newbuildings and west across the Foyle to Donegal
(ii) a link from the A5/A6 link, around the west of Londonderry to the Buncrana Road.
Recommendations
The recommendations set out in the reports provides Roads Service with sufficient information to make an informed decision as to the most appropriate way forward in terms of identifying schemes for development in accordance with standard procedures. Any subsequent development of feasible schemes should consider the benefits and disbenefits associated with various corridors in terms of engineering feasibility, environmental impact, operational performance, economic viability and overall affordability.
Review of the Strategic Road Network
The Review of the Strategic Road Network confirms the benefits of:
- providing a strategic link from the A6 dualling scheme at Drumahoe to the A5 dualling scheme at Newbuildings;
- extending this strategic A5/A6 link across the Foyle to Donegal, however, the benefits of the latter could only be realised if there was an appropriate high quality link to the National Roads Authority strategic road network; and
- providing a local distributor ‘West Link’ connecting from the strategic A5/A6 link and skirting around the west of the city to Buncrana Road. This would be challenging and would require a much more detailed investigation to examine its buildability and the benefits arising.
Review of Strategic Road Network
A5/A6 Link - feasibility study
The A5/A6 Link initial feasibility study of high level options has been carried out to establish the feasibility of building the A5/A6 Link in terms of route alignment and key environmental constraints. The A5/A6 Link is a concept; it is not part of any committed or planned construction programme.
A5/A6 Link - feasibility study
A5/A2 West Link - feasibility study
The A5/A2 West Link initial feasibility study of high level options has been carried out to establish the feasibility of building the A5/A2 West Link in terms of route alignment and key environmental constraints. The A5/A2 West Link is a concept; it is not part of any committed or planned construction programme.