Main construction work on the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Scheme to begin

Main construction work on the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson Dualling Scheme will begin in the next few weeks. Work will take place on the sections from Randalstown to Toome and from Moyola to Castledawson Roundabout.

The £160 million scheme is an Executive Flagship project which will deliver reductions in peak journey times by at least a quarter, remove several bottlenecks along the route and also significantly improve road safety for 18,000 people using the road daily. The local community will also benefit as strategic traffic will be diverted from local roads, improving road safety for other travellers such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The entire scheme is expected to be substantially complete in early 2021, with the Randalstown to Toome section open to traffic as soon as 2019.

The A6 is a strategically important transport corridor, strengthening the links between Belfast, Derry and the wider North West.  The ongoing work will also benefit the local construction industry delivering local jobs and investment, with £2.30 of benefit to the local economy for every £1 of capital investment.  Social clauses within the contract will also ensure the creation of between 15-20 new paid employment and training opportunities over the construction period.

Throughout, the Department has continued to meet environmental commitments and has engaged in a comprehensive and sustained consultation process to ensure there will be no adverse impact on any protected flora or fauna including the protected Whooper Swans.  In relation to the contested section near Mossbawn, only essential work involving alterations to utility supplies, minor archaeology / geotechnical testing and ground preparation to the south of the existing Bypass will be completed at this time.  The Department will work to bring any future legal proceedings regarding this section of the route to a conclusion as soon as possible.

The Department has carefully programmed the works operations and traffic management arrangements to keep delays to a minimum. The public will be kept informed by advance signing and through the Department’s TrafficwatchNI website.

Notes to editors: 

1. The A6 forms part of the North-Western Key Transport Corridor and is the main road connecting the major hub cities of Belfast and Derry.  It provides an important link for business, commuters, local residents and tourism. This section of the A6 currently carries approximately 18,000 vehicles per day and suffers congestion at peak times.
2. 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 budget for the 2016-17 year, but also agreed budget up to 2020-21 for a number of ‘Flagship Projects’ of which the A6 was one.  However, the annual Budget figures for the project may vary from that initial approval dependent on progress.
3. The contractor for the scheme is GRAHAM/Farrans.
4. More information is available on the A6 Scheme webpage
5. Traffic information is available on the TrafficwatchNI webpage
6. 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.
7. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra        

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