18 October 2001

DRD MINISTER ANNOUNCES START DATE FOR TOOME BYPASS

Regional Development Minister, Gregory Campbell, MP, MLA, today announced an April 2002 start date for the £13.6 million Toome Bypass.

The Minister said that the contract for the design of the 3.5 kilometre Bypass has now gone out to tender and work on this important scheme is expected to start next Spring.

He said: "Roads Service did encounter some difficulty during the land acquisition process but I am pleased to say that any objections have now been successfully overcome.

"A preferred contractor is now being sought for the project and I would expect work to start on site next year. The contract is scheduled to last for approximately 18 months.

"Once completed this scheme will significantly reduce problems caused by heavy through-traffic in Toome, which is resulting in environmental disturbance for residents as well as significant delays for motorists."

Mr Campbell said that the design of the scheme was sympathetic to the environmentally sensitive areas through which it passed, including winter feeding grounds for Whooper Swans.

"Roads Service approach to this project underlines their commitment to the protection of the environment," he said.

A 90 metre span bridge will also be built to carry the bypass over the Lower River Bann.

Mr Campbell said: "This landmark structure will form a gateway between counties Antrim and Londonderry. The single span bridge has been designed to ensure the necessary environment requirements are met and that the river continues to be navigable.

"The bypass represents a major investment in the Northern Ireland road infrastructure and I have no doubt it will vastly improve the key strategic routes serving Londonderry and the North West."

Also included in the contract will be the construction of a ‘dynamic weighbridge’ facility beside the Roguery Road Roundabout and a ‘park and share’ facility beside the Drumderg Roundabout.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Funding for the Bypass has been secured from Executive Programme Funds.
2. The proposed project also requires the construction of 0.5 kilometres of side roads to connect to the local road network.
3. The bypass will:
• Begin at Creagh Roundabout, east of the Blackpark Road.
• Continue as on-line dualling – a new carriageway built along the south side of the existing road.
• Diverge to the north alongside the electricity transmission line.
• Rise on embankment to cross over the Lower River Bann on a new bridge to Roguery Road Roundabout.
• Continue southeast on shallow embankment and then shallow cutting to Gloverstown Road.
• Cross Gloverstown Road before curving east to Drumderg Roundabout.

For further information contact Clare Baxter on 028 9054 0068 or Eamon Deeny on 028 9054 0004.