£385K road scheme nearing completion

A spokesperson for the Department of Regional Development said the scheme on the Ballyquin Road at Inisconagher between Limavady and Dungiven is “a significant investment and will deliver long term safety benefits for drivers using this road.”

“The scheme includes carriageway widening and the introduction of new verges. The work will provide improvements to the horizontal and vertical alignment of the Ballyquin Road for a length of over a third of a mile (600m) from the junction with the Derryork Road towards Dungiven.”

The spokesperson said that to help ensure the safety of road users and contractors a road closure, with local, well signposted diversions, will remain in place. Diversions include at the Ballyquin Road, which is closed between Derryork Road and Camnish Road with Dungiven bound traffic diverted via Derryork Road, Drumrane Road and Main Street.

“Local access will be maintained throughout the scheme,” added the spokesperson.

East Derry Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Ó hOisín said the work is long overdue.

“This stretch of road is poor, and a long overdue remedy. There has been some inconvenience with diversions in place, but I hope that it will be worth it.”

The assemblyman said he would also be lobbying the minister about another part of the Ballyquin Road “to highlight the corner on the Ballyquin road, which was due for re-alignment some years ago and which has been the the scene of five fatalities of young men in recent times.”

“The Ballyquin Road has seen many tragedies, but this particular corner must be a priority,” added Mr O’hOisin.