News Release Page Title

21 March 2005

SPELLAR ANNOUNCES £250 MILLION PPP PACKAGE FOR ROADS

Regional Development Minister, John Spellar MP, today launched Northern Ireland's second Public Private Partnership (PPP) for a major road scheme, by announcing a package of improvements to the A1 and A4 trunk roads.

The PPP uses the Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) approach, where the road improvements are designed, constructed and financed by a private sector consortium, which then operates and maintains the road under the direction of Roads Service for up to 30-years for an agreed series of payments from Government.

Speaking at the launch of the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan in Lisburn, Mr Spellar said: "This will be the second privately financed road project in Northern Ireland, with the private sector responsible for all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the road under the direction of Roads Service. It follows on from the first package, which includes the M1/Westlink project that is now at an advanced stage of procurement.

"This DBFO Package will result in some £250M of much needed capital investment to our strategic roads network. It comprises the upgrade of the A1 between Beechill north of Newry and Cloghogue to high standard dual- carriageway standard, along with the provision of four new flyover junctions and provision of a central reserve safety barrier between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland.

"In addition, Package 2 will deliver the dualling of the A4 between Dungannon and Ballygawley and single carriageway realignments to the A4 at Annaghilla and A5 at Tullyvar to assist in improving access to Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh.

"Subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures, it is anticipated that work will commence on the Beechill to Cloghogue scheme in early 2007, with work on the A4 likely to commence in 2008."

Speaking at the same event, Dr Malcolm McKibbin, Chief Executive of Roads Service stressed the commitment of his Agency to progressing this project. Dr McKibbin added: "This is an exciting project for Roads Service and it will be of great benefit to road users, so we are looking forward to working closely with the private sector to deliver these improvements to the A1 and A4 as quickly as possible."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Mr Spellar announced that this package would be taken forward as a PPP in January 2004.

  2. The DBFO approach does not mean tolls are payable by motorists. The service payments are met from public funds.

  3. Roads Service remains as the road authority, with the DBFO company acting under Roads Service supervision.

  4. This second package of the Roads Service DBFO Programme, estimated capital value of £250m includes:

    • Dualling A1 from Beechill to Cloghogue
      Dualling of approximately 12km of the A1 between Beechill and Cloghogue to a high quality dual carriageway standard incorporating fully grade separated junctions, central median safety barrier and a hard shoulder. The alignment is largely off-line. Statutory procedures for the scheme commenced with publication of the Direction Order and Environmental Statement in November 2004. The vesting procedure to assemble the necessary land for the scheme is planned to commence later in 2005.

    • A1 Junction Improvements
      Provision of grade separation at four junctions at Dromore Road Hillsborough, Dromore Road Banbridge, Dublin Road / Grovehill Road Loughbrickland and Banbridge Road Dromore will be included in this package. Statutory procedures for the scheme including publication of the Direction Order and Environmental Statement and the vesting procedure to assemble the necessary land for the scheme are planned to commence later in 2005.

    • A1 Safety Fencing
      Within the package, Roads Service is also proposes to include erection of some 26km of central reserve safety barrier and to close some central reserve crossovers serving both public and private roads between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland.

    • Dualling A4 from Dungannon to Ballygawley
      Upgrade approximately 20.5km of the A4 between Dungannon and Ballygawley as a partially on-line / partially off-line high quality dual carriageway standard incorporating a number of grade separated junctions and central median safety barrier. Statutory procedures for the scheme including publication of the Direction Order and Environmental Statement and the vesting procedure to assemble the necessary land for the scheme are planned to commence later in 2005.

    • Single carriageway improvements to the A4 at Annaghilla
      A 3.8km realignment of the A4 single carriageway route between Ballygawley and Augher including a section of 2 + 1 overtaking opportunity. Statutory procedures for these schemes including publication of the Direction Order and Environmental Statement and the vesting procedure to assemble the necessary land for the scheme are planned to commence later in 2005.

    • Single carriageway improvements to the A5 at Tullyvar
      3.1km realignment of the A5 single carriageway route between Ballygawley and Aughnacloy including climbing lanes either side of Tullyvar Hill. Statutory procedures for these schemes including publication of the Direction Order and Environmental Statement and the vesting procedure to assemble the necessary land for the scheme are planned to commence later in 2005.

    • Operation and maintenance of 125km of motorway and trunk road network for 30 years.

  5. The contract notice which invites applications from companies or consortia that wish to be invited to tender for the contract was published in the Official Journal of the European Union earlier in March 2005.

  6. Because of the complex financing arrangements surrounding the procurement of a roads project as a Public Private Partnership, it can take some 18-24 months between publication of the contract notice and contract signature. In order to facilitate early delivery of these important capital schemes, Roads Service is therefore advancing this procurement in parallel with completion of the statutory processes. This however will not impact on the rights of those impacted by the individual schemes. Works can only commence once the statutory processes are completed.

For media enquiries contact Paddy Cullen, DRD Press Office 028 9054 0817.

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