Public Information Day on Buncrana Road improvement scheme
Date published:
Local people are being invited to give their views on the latest proposals to upgrade the A2 Buncrana Road between the Pennyburn Roundabout and the border with County Donegal.
The Department for Infrastructure is holding a public information event on Tuesday 26 March from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm in Da Vinci’s Hotel, Culmore Road, Derry/Londonderry and is inviting the public and interested bodies to drop in and view the latest proposals.
The emerging design was made available to the public at a previous public information day held in May 2018. Since then the Department has carried out further survey work and ground investigations, and has refined the design taking on board the feedback received from the public.
The event on 26 March will allow everyone to view the latest proposals, hear about the next steps for the scheme and provide any further comments. The Department for Infrastructure team and their consulting partners, Arup, will be available to discuss any aspects of the scheme.
The A2 Buncrana Road is a key link in the North West which serves as the main corridor from the city centre to significant industrial and residential areas, as well as a link to County Donegal.
The aims of the proposed scheme are to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion and help support the use of more sustainable transport modes, while also assisting the economic regeneration of the city and help facilitate future development.
A Preferred Route for the scheme was announced in 2009 but was not progressed further at that stage due to lack of available funding. In December 2016 the then Minister for the Department, Chris Hazzard, announced a stimulus package and funding was made available to recommence scheme development with a view to taking it forward to publication of draft statutory orders and Environmental Statement.
Given the time lapse since the announcement of the Preferred Route in 2009, the Department has undertaken new traffic and environmental surveys and reviewed the design in line with current standards and policy.
The public can also make representations by letter, email or via the Department’s website. Contact details are available at: DfI Roads Western Division - Divisional Manager.
Notes to editors:
- The overall scheme is 4.4 kilometres in length and is estimated to cost around £70 million.
- There are ongoing discussions with landowners whose properties are affected by the scheme. These will continue over the coming months to develop the detail and potential mitigation measures that are deemed appropriate.
- Subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory processes the Department is aiming to publish the draft Statutory Orders and Environmental Statement in 2020.
- Delivery of the new road scheme will be dependent on the successful completion of the statutory processes and the future availability of finance.
- Further information is available at: A2 Buncrana Road, Londonderry - overview.
- All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or email: press.office@infrastrucure-ni.gov.uk. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.
- Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.