Duel carriageway and bypass are put on hold

Foyle MLA Mark H. Durkan asked the Minister to detail the timescale for the completion of the projects.

He said he expected progress on environmental statements and draft direction and vesting orders this year with a public inquiry likely by spring 2012. But the road won’t be built until 2014/15 or later.

He stated: “My Department’s Roads Service expects to publish an Environmental Statement, draft Direction Order and draft Vesting Order later this year for the 30 kilometre dual carriageway from Londonderry to Dungiven, including a dual carriageway bypass of Dungiven.

“Publication of these Orders will invite formal comment and objection and this will most likely lead to a public inquiry in Spring 2012, to examine the case for and against the scheme.

“Given the reduction of two fifths in the Executive’s overall capital funding, the funds currently allocated to my Department in the 2011-2015 budget would not allow construction of the Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway or Dungiven Bypass to commence before 2014-2015, at the earliest.”