Progress expected on A5, A6, rail and Strathfoyle greenway projects

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said the first project which will link one of Derry’s most physically isolated communities with the city should officially open this month.

He said he hopes the example of the Strathfoyle Greenway will be followed in other areas. “I have just written to Councils inviting them to submit proposals for support for greenway and active travel schemes, such as the Strathfoyle Greenway in Derry, which is due to open late summer 2022, providing the rural communities with the opportunity to travel actively into Derry City Centre,” he said.

Minister O’Dowd has said he expects the engineering consultancy to finish its report in a matter of months.

“The Review is being undertaken to allow us to consider our rail network across this island with a view to how it can be improved for everyone.

“The Review will examine the potential for rail connections across the island including how our existing connections could be improved and where new rail links would be best placed.

Work on Strathfoyle Greenway starts

“It will also examine how we can connect our rail network to areas across the island of Ireland, our international gateways through our ports and airports, and the potential for transporting freight using the rail network, whilst also considering how we can move to a low or zero emission rail network. It is anticipated that the Review will be completed in the autumn of 2022,” said Mr. O’Dowd.

Another key flagship project, the A6, will ‘open to traffic later this year’, the minister said.

Mallon reaffirms commitment to A5 after meeting families of road crash victimsMr. O’Dowd is also hopeful of progress on the A5.

“A new Environmental Statement Addendum was published on March 16, 2022, commencing a consultation process that concluded on May 6, 2022. It is hoped that the Public Inquiry can be reconvened in the autumn,” he said. He described the project as of ‘significant strategic importance to the region’ and one that will ‘improve road safety’ and help ‘tackle regional imbalance, improve the economy, job prospects and prosperity, and connect communities across the island’.

Eamon Ryan working with Nichola Mallon to explore Derry to Letterkenny rail link