A5 costs £25m and rising

Roads Minister Conor Murphy said draft vesting and direction orders for the massive road scheme will be published in November and a public inquiry will likely take place next year.

The Minister said he expected work on the road to begin in 2012 and that it would be completed by 2015.

Speaking at the Stormont Assembly he stated: "Roads Service has advised that the total amount spent to date on the A5

dualling scheme between Derry and Aughnacloy is 24,715,000."

He added: "Those figures include consultants' fees, site investigations and surveys and payments to the integrated delivery teams."

Asked if the Executive would sustain the A5 project in spite of threats to the Northern Ireland Budget the Minister said he

anticipated funding would be made available through the normal budgetary process.

He also outlined the timeframe for the development stating: "Subject to satisfactory progress through the statutory procedures and the availability of funds through a normal budgetary process, it is anticipated that construction could start in 2012 and be completed in 2015.

"It is expected that the draft vesting and direction Orders and environmental statement will be published in November 2010. It is anticipated that a public inquiry will take place in 2011.

"Subject to a satisfactory outcome of the public inquiry and confirmation of the availability of funding, construction work, as I said, is expected to start in 2012 and be completed in 2015."

The proposed roads scheme has been opposed by some landowners whose property will be affected, and there are also fears that it could create a bottleneck in Newbuildings.