Culmore roundabout scheme to be finished by September

SDLP MLA for Foyle, Pol Callaghan, has revealed that Culmore Roundabout Scheme will be completed by September 2011.

Mr. Callaghan tabled a question last month asking the Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy when the work would be completed and for the amount of funding granted to do so.

“The minister has confirmed to me that over £2.2 million had been offered to Roads Service in November 2010 to complete the scheme. In his written answer to me the minister said that Phase II of the project is expected to cost approximately £1.8 million and should everything go according to plan then it is expected that the work would start in a matter of weeks.”

Welcome

Mr. Callaghan welcomed the minister’s announcement and said that he is hopeful that the work to the junction upgrade would be completed in time for the start of the new school year at the beginning of September.

“People were obviously bewildered when major work commenced at a key junction in the city only to then stop because of funding gaps.

“This is not just an essential local route but it also forms part of the key regional transport network for the wider North West.

Work to start

“It is therefore welcomed that EU funding has now enabled tenders to be issued and hopefully we’ll see the restart of work within weeks.”

He added: “I know many people will be particularly keen that the junction would be completed before the start of the new school term in September, given the particular traffic demands that period places on our roads.”