Vesting Order made for A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe dualling scheme
Date published:
The Vesting Order to acquire the land for the proposed dualling scheme on the A6 between Dungiven and Drumahoe was made today and comes into effect on 19 September 2017.
This NI Executive Flagship scheme, which includes a bypass of Dungiven, will further improve this strategically important economic route connecting Belfast to the North West.
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said:
“The Dungiven to Drumahoe dualling scheme is another key step in improving the transport connections to the North West. This vesting order will allow the Department for Infrastructure to acquire the necessary land to move the project forward.
“Upgrading this section of the A6 will improve journey times and more significantly, will make the journey time more reliable for the 13,000 vehicles daily on this key economic corridor which is fundamental in enhancing connectivity and unlocking the economic potential of the whole region.
“The Department fully appreciates the impact the scheme will have on affected residential, commercial and agricultural owners. Officials are in detailed discussions with these owners in an attempt to ease the impacts as far as is reasonably practicable. Compensation will be provided for the compulsory acquisition of any land and properties required for the scheme, and this is being dealt with by Land and Property Services on behalf of the Department.”
Upon successful completion of the tendering process which is currently underway, it is anticipated that construction works will commence on site in the spring of 2018 and take up to four years to complete.
To provide the local community with an opportunity to view the scheme in more detail, a leaflet will be issued to households along the length of the project and display boards can be viewed in the library in Dungiven and at the YMCA in Drumahoe.
Notes to editors:
- In December 2011, the Department published the Draft Statutory Orders for the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe 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.
- After considering the findings of the Public Inquiry, the Department announced in February 2016 that the A6 Dungiven to Dumahoe 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.
- An exercise exploring the extent of the initial phase of the A6 improvement scheme concluded that the funding could deliver the 25.5 kilometre between Dungiven and Drumahoe. Making of the Vesting Order for this section is the next stage in the process.
- Budget approval for the project 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 up to 2020-21 for a number of ‘Flagship Projects’ of which the A6 was one.
- Scheme boards shall be on display in the following venues from 15 August 2017 to 29 September 2017:
- The Public Library, 107 Main Street, Dungiven, BT47 4LE; and
- The YMCA, 51 Glenshane Road, Drumahoe, BT47 3SF
Please note that staff from the Department will not be in attendance at either location.
- The A6 route is an important part of the North Western Key Transport Corridor connecting Belfast and Londonderry via Toome, Maghera and Dungiven.
- The existing A6 route between Dungiven and Drumahoe consists mainly of a single 2-lane carriageway, with short sections of wide single 2+1 lane carriageway.
- The Department proposes a dual carriageway from Dungiven to Drumahoe, including a dual carriageway bypass of Dungiven. Compact grade-separated junctions will connect the dual carriageway to the local road network.
- 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.
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