22 November 2004
ALMOST £3 MILLION INVESTMENT ON ROADS IN DERRY CITY AREA
Around £3 million is being spent on structural road maintenance in the
Derry City area this year, Divisional Roads Manager, Dr Andrew Murray, revealed when he presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to Derry City Council.Introducing the report, Dr Murray said: "The level of investment in the Derry City Council area is indicative of the continued high levels of investment across Northern Ireland that, once again, sees Road Service committing some £70 million towards structural maintenance. It is worth noting that the vast majority of this money, some 90% in fact, is being earmarked for work on non-trunk roads, which form the bulk of the road network in this area.
"In the Derry City Council area, Roads Service has earmarked around £3million for resurfacing works. Asphalt resurfacing of Maydown Roundabout and its approaches has been completed, as has 740 metres of the A6, Foreglen Road, near the section boundary, 870 metres of the A5, Victoria Road, at the Everglades and 1,200 metres of the B49, Cumber Road."
Dr Murray also referred to the ongoing strengthening works at the Foyle Bridge. He said: "Progress with the strengthening works during the summer and autumn has been excellent, and the works, including painting of the external panels of the bridge and asphalt resurfacing of the carriageway is expected to be complete by the end of August 2005."
Dr Murray continued: "It is also worth pointing out that Roads Service has secured significantly enhanced funding for local transport and safety measures and this means that, in the Derry City Council area, spending on this particular aspect of our work, which includes work on traffic calming, collision remedial and minor works will increase this year.
"The increase in funding has facilitated the delivery of schemes such as the recently completed £450,000 scheme to widen the Dungiven Road to four lanes, between Altnagelvin roundabout and Rossdowney Road and the £85,000 scheme to widen the Glenshane Road to four lanes, between Altnagelvin roundabout and the entrance to Altnagelvin Hospital.
"A £160,000 programme of traffic calming measures, to reduce speed at various locations throughout the city, including the Galliagh Estate and along Kilfennan Link Road, is ongoing. A collision remedial scheme, at Caw Roundabout, has commenced which will introduce a spiral carriageway marking system to encourage better driver discipline and reduce the number of collisions at this busy junction. Pelican crossings on Abercorn Road, Culmore Road and at two locations on the Creggan Road are now substantially complete."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Structural maintenance includes the upkeep of the foundations and surfaces of roads and footways. It includes activities such as resurfacing, surface dressing, patching and rural road drainage.
- Roads Service is spending £70million on Structural Maintenance in 2004/05.
- For media queries contact Paddy Cullen or Ann Williamson at DRD Press Office on 028 9054 0007.
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