Council receives an update on infrastructure projects for Derry City and Strabane District Council 2020

Derry City and Strabane District Council members have been updated on works in the area by the Department for Infrastructure during 2019/20 and the Department’s schemes being undertaken in 2020/21.

Speaking as he addressed council members this evening, Divisional Roads Manager, Mr David McKinley said,

“Over the past year good progress has been made on a number of strategic roads infrastructure projects, in particular on the A6 where the new dual carriageway from Randalstown to Toome opened to traffic in August of last year, while the Toome to Castledawson section remains on programme to open in 2021. Design and construction continues to progress well on the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe scheme. Meanwhile development work continues at pace on the A2 Buncrana Road project and on the A5 Western Transport Corridor.

“Significant resurfacing schemes have been completed including A5 Victoria Road (2 locations), B50 Drumquin Road, B69 Baranailt Road, C516 Trench Road and C506 Edenreagh Road. In addition roads carrying cross border traffic benefitted from £1.4 million of Brexit preparedness funding which saw resurfacing carried out at a number of locations including A1002 Culmore Road, A5 Great Northern Link and u1110 Coshquin Road. Work was also completed at 269 locations at a cost of £724,000 as part of the roads recovery fund which addresses roads in immediate need of repair.”

Mr McKinley also advised that a new footway was completed at Fincairn Road, Drumahoe and footway widening at Temple Road, Strathfoyle and Urney Road, Strabane. A part time 20 mph speed limit was introduced at Glendermott Primary School on Ardmore Road.

Street Lighting renewal schemes were completed at Corrib Court, Ballymagroarty, Hillview Avenue, Prehen, Culmore Point Road and Greenwood, Culmore, Elaghmore Park and Bellevue Avenue, Derry and Monadore Road and Altinure Cottages, Park. The street lighting columns were replaced on the steel section of Foyle Bridge and LED retrofit lanterns provided at many locations throughout the Council area. Bridge works included the provision of a mains water supply to Foyle Bridge to assist with drainage maintenance on the bridge, Glenrandal Bridge replacement and flood relief work to the Gransha Intake, Madam’s Bank Road, Derry.

“These projects will provide significant benefits to both the local community and enhance provision for all those walking and cycling, as well as those using roads in the Derry City and Strabane area.

“It has been an unprecedented year so far, with the impact of Covid-19.  This resulted in our contractors being unable to work from mid-March until around mid-May, which had a knock on impact on our work programmes.  I am pleased to advise that our contractors have been working again in May and June, to complete the schemes that were stopped and we are now planning and implementing our 2020/21 works programmes.

“Divisional allocations have now been confirmed and I am pleased to note that on the Capital side these are broadly similar to last year although additional funding is being made available for walking and cycling and safer routes to schools and this will allow the introduction of part time 20mph speed limits at 8 schools in the Derry City and Strabane Council area this financial year. Resource allocations will allow the Department to maintain the road network in a similar way to last year but I am pleased to report that the Minister has allocated sufficient funding to allow a full street lighting repair service for the entire year and this is to be welcomed.  

“The overall 2020/21 structural maintenance capital budget is £75 million for Northern Ireland and of this, £12 million has been set aside for a roads recovery fund of which £10 million is targeted towards rural roads. For Derry City and Strabane Council this translates to approximately £800,000 to be used to address areas of immediate need across the rural road network.

“My staff will continue to develop local transport and safety schemes and maintenance programmes to enhance safety, improve traffic flow and provide measures for pedestrians and cyclists.  As the year progresses we will continue to bid for additional funding to maintain the integrity of the road network and additional schemes will be implemented as funding becomes available through the year.

“I would encourage Councillors to continue to contact the relevant members of my staff in relation to operational matters and they will do their best to assist.”

Notes to editors: 

1. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hour’s service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
2. Follow us on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

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