15 January 2002
DRD ROADS SERVICE OUTLINES PLANS TO MAGHERAFELT COUNCIL
A 500 metre scheme to widen the carriageway and construct a footway on the B47, Sixtowns Road, Draperstown, is currently under consideration by the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service.
The proposal was outlined by acting Western Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty, as he presented the Roads Service’s Interim Report for 2001/2002 to Magherafelt District Council tonight.
The main purpose of the report is to give an update on the progress of this year’s work and to consult the Council about priorities for 2002/2003 programmes before they are finalised.
Mr Doherty said: "There are a large number of heavy goods vehicles on the B47, travelling from the local quarries and the road widening and footway will help improve conditions for both vehicles and pedestrians using the road.
"Other plans for the current year include the provision of approximately 400m of footway on the A42, Clady Road connecting Clady and Portglenone. Smaller scale schemes are also planned such as the formalisation of a footpath in Parkmore, Magherafelt."
Mr Doherty highlighted the excellent work ongoing on the A29 between Desertmartin and Moneymore, particularly the works at Reuben’s Glen, which had been completed during the past year. The work included filling a severe dip in the road and widening the road to provide verges. A tree-planting programme is also planned, to replace the trees that had to be removed to facilitate the road works.
Mr Doherty explained that the top priority for Roads Service continues to be the maintenance of the existing network.
He said: "I am pleased to inform the Council that Western Division has secured extra funds for structural maintenance, all of which will be spent on additional resurfacing schemes.
"However, the amount allocated to Roads Service for maintaining the structure and surfaces of roads and footways throughout Northern Ireland is around half of what is required by our good practice Maintenance Funding Plan."
Mr Doherty also said that funding for both Major and Minor Capital Improvement schemes continues to be fairly tight.
He said: "The Division continues to get many requests for improvements large and small, so priorities have to be set. Safety improvements, encouraging the use of transport other than private car, and meeting established traffic and pedestrian needs continue to attract a high priority."
For further information contact Eamon Deeny at the DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0004.
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