TransportNI carries out a comprehensive appraisal of each strategic road improvement proposal. The appraisal procedure requires a clear understanding of the objectives which are to be met, and appropriate criteria to be used, to decide whether a proposal meets them.
Scheme assessment reports act as a summary of the more technical reports generated during the appraisal of road schemes. Scheme assessment and reporting is a three-stage procedure; the level of detail and coverage of the assessment and the report is appropriate to the type of decision that can reasonably be taken at each stage.
Stage 1 identifies the environmental, engineering, economic and traffic advantages, disadvantages and constraints associated with broadly defined improvement stategies. This concludes in the selection of a number of potential routes or options.
The Londonderry to Castledawson stage 1 report indicated that the preferred corridor for providing a new dual carriageway between Castledawson roundabout and Londonderry is within the existing A6 corridor. Whilst only a broad implementation strategy could be defined, three discrete sections of the A6 can be identified, namely:
- Castledawson to Dungiven
- Dungiven to Drumahoe on the outskirts of Londonderry
- Drumahoe to Caw roundabout / Stradreagh.
The report recommended that the western section of the route including the Dungiven Bypass should be taken forward at an early stage to provide improved overtaking opportunities for strategic traffic and to allow consideration of bypasses for some of the communities along the route.
Other sections of the A6 dualling should be implemented as demand dictates and depending on availability of funding.
A6 Londonderry to Castledawson roundabout - stage 1 scheme assessment report