May date for the A5 road inquiry

AN Economic appraisal of the multi-million pound A5 between Londonderry and Aughnacloy will not be completed until a public inquiry is held from May, the Roads Minister Conor Murphy has revealed.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Feb 2011, 09:40 BST

He told UUP leader Tom Elliot an economic evaluation of the road project - which generated 2,000 objections betweem November and January - will follow a public inquiry that will commence in the spring.

He said: “My Department’s Roads Service has advised that a full Economic Appraisal for the A5 Western Transport Corridor (WTC) will be completed when the details of the project have been confirmed, following the outcome of a Public Inquiry.

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“The Preferred Option Report for the A5WTC project, which was published in July 2009, set out the economic position at that time and indicated a ‘Benefits to Costs Ratio’ of 1:74. “I can advise that construction of the proposed dual carriageway will not proceed until the Economic Appraisal has been completed and approved by the Department of Finance and Personnel.”

On Monday the Minister announced that an inquiry would be launched in May. The recent formal consultation period associated with the project, which ran from 15 November 2010 until 21 January 2011, attracted over 2,000 objections.

In announcing his decision, the Minister said: “As expected there has been considerable interest in the proposed A5 dualling project and it is important that Public Inquiries are held to discuss and debate the issues of contention associated with the published Draft Orders and Environmental Statement.

“Projects of this scale will usually result in the holding of a Public Inquiry but, because of the length of the project and the extent of the interest, it has been decided that the A5 Public Inquiry will be held at a number of locations along the route.

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“I welcome the interest in the project and hope that many of the matters of concern can be addressed either before or at the Public Inquiry which is likely to commence in May 2011.”

The A5 Western Transport Corridor extends from New Buildings to the border at Aughnacloy and, at a length of 85 km, is the largest road scheme ever undertaken in the north. Further details associated with the Public Inquiry will be published at a later date.

Related topics:Conor MurphyUUP