19 June 2006
ROADS SERVICE INVESTS £6 MILLION IN FERMANAGH
Capital and maintenance investment totalling £6 million is planned for Fermanagh in the year ahead.
Speaking to Fermanagh District Council, Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty said: "The schemes which will be taken forward in 2006/07 include completion of the schemes at Trory junction, Ballycassidy Bridge and at the Share Centre in Lisnaskea; surfacing of the widened section of the A32 Mossfield Straight, and two sections of the A46 Loughshore Road to Belleek. This year, we will also be providing a complementary eastbound 2+1 on the A4 at Faughard, Lisbellaw."
A32 Cherrymount Link Road is the most significant major work scheme in the District. A review of the scheme proposals is currently ongoing. It is intended to present the scheme options to Council and the public later this year.
The other major proposal is the A4 Henry Street road widening scheme in Enniskillen. Development of the scheme proposals is well advanced. The proposals include the provision of a 3-lane carriageway and a dedicated parking/servicing layby on the northern side of Henry Street. It is hoped to publish statutory orders later this summer and at that time there will be public consultation.
"Most road users appreciate that making this sort of improvement can't be done without some disruption to traffic. But Roads Service is making every effort to keep disruption to a minimum by completing as many major schemes as possible during the summer months when there is generally less traffic and contractors can take advantage of daylight hours and, where possible, by avoiding peak traffic times," said Mr Doherty.
"Roads Service will be making every effort to give motorists advance warning of roadworks through signage and information prior to works. There will be updated information on our website and radio traffic reports," he said.
In the last three years a total of some £735 million has been spent on developing and maintaining the road network in Northern Ireland - some £495 million on revenue activities including maintenance with a further some £240 million on capital. Over the next 10 years the draft ISNI envisages that some £1.9 billion will be invested in road building subject to the availability of resources in future budget rounds, economic appraisal and statutory approvals. Some £166 million has also been allocated to Roads Structural Maintenance in the three years to 2007/08. When assessing figures for any year it is important to see these figures over a cycle. Safety is always and will remain the top priority.
Mr Doherty said that in the Fermanagh area the spend on defect repairs, street lighting, grass cutting, winter service and other safety related activities would be maintained at present levels.
Councillors were reminded of the decision, following the Review of Public Administration, that the responsibility for the maintenance, management and development of local roads will transfer to the seven new local authorities in Spring 2009. The local road network consists of all roads except motorways and trunk roads and comprises about 23,700 km of the 25,000 km of public roads throughout Northern Ireland.
"Roads Service is currently assessing the implications of this decision and identifying how it can help to facilitate the smooth transfer of local roads responsibilities. The associated financial, staff and other resource consequences will require careful consideration," he said.
He informed the Council that the Department for Regional Development will be taking over the current PSNI responsibilities for parking enforcement this autumn.
Mr Doherty also took the opportunity to highlight some of the schemes already completed in 2005/06: improvements on the A509 at Macken Hill and at Fawcett's guesthouse near Bellanaleck and commencement of a major scheme at Ballycassidy Bridge.
A Strategic Road Improvement scheme was completed in the District on the A4, Belfast Road, Maguiresbridge during the 2005/06 year in the form of a westbound 2+1.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Media queries to: Paddy Cullen or Emma Flynn Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, Tel: 028 9054 0007.
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