Contract for £220 million A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe Dualling Scheme awarded

The Department for Infrastructure has appointed the contractor to construct the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe Dualling Scheme.

The award is to a consortium of Sacyr, Wills Bros and Somague and is a major milestone in the delivery of this NI Executive Flagship project.

The 25.5 kilometre scheme represents an investment in the region of £220 million, including land acquisition. The project will construct a high standard dual carriageway between Drumahoe and Dungiven, including a bypass of Dungiven, with roundabouts connecting the scheme to the existing road network at either end.

The A6 is a strategically important route as it connects the North West to Belfast and beyond. The existing road carries around 15,000 vehicles per day and with traffic levels continuing to grow, this very significant investment will greatly improve road safety and journey times by reducing congestion. 

The construction of this road will help to secure jobs in the construction industry, contribute to the economic development of the region and bring long term benefits to road users and local communities.  

Work is expected to commence in the coming weeks, and will take up to four years to complete.

Notes to editors: 

1. In December 2011 the Department published the Draft Statutory Orders for the A6 Londonderry to Dungiven scheme. These were the Environmental Statement, the Draft Direction Order and the Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order. Subsequently, a public inquiry into the scheme proposals was held in September/October 2012.
2. After considering the findings of the Public Inquiry, the Department announced in February 2016 that the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe scheme would proceed, subject to availability of funding. At the same time, the Departmental Statement, setting out the Department’s response to the recommendations of the Public Inquiry Report was published.
3. An exercise exploring the extent of the initial phase of A6 improvement scheme concluded that the funding could deliver the 25.5km between Dungiven and Drumahoe. 
4. Budget approval for the project funding was agreed by the NI Executive through its 2016-17 Budget, published on 19 January 2016, which not only provided funding for the 2017-18 year, but also agreed budget up to 2020-21 for a number of ‘Flagship Projects’ of which the A6 was one.
5. The Vesting Order for this section was made on 15 August 2017 and came into effect on 19 September 2017.
6. Advanced site clearance and archaeological investigations have been completed at targeted locations along the new route, prior to the main construction works.
7. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or e-mail: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.
8. See photos from the Department for Infrastructure in our Flickr collection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/niexecutive/collections      
9. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra  

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