Major NI road improvement schemes move forward

The government has confirmed that a £100 million M1 / Westlink and M2 widening scheme is on target to commence early next year.

Roads Minister Shaun Woodward confirmed a proposed timetable for the scheme, when he announced that Highway Management (NI) has been selected as the provisional preferred bidder for the project.

Highway Management (NI) is comprised of local contractors John Graham (Dromore) Limited, Northstone (NI) Ltd (formerly Farrans Ltd) and the major German multi-services group Bilfinger Berger.

The major roads construction project includes widening of the M1 and Westlink to three lanes in each direction between Stockman’s Lane and Grosvenor Road. This will also entail the provision of underpasses at Broadway and Grosvenor Road junctions, the widening of the M2 between Greencastle and Sandyknowles to three lanes in each direction and provision of on-slips to the M2 at Antrim Area Hospital.

The Minister said: "The M1 / Westlink and M2 widening schemes will reduce congestion and improve journey times for motorists travelling both to and through Belfast and will improve the accessibility of Belfast Port for industry.

"As I also have Ministerial responsibility for Health, I am particularly pleased to note the provision of on-slips to the M2 at Antrim Area Hospital which will further improve access to the hospital for the emergency services and the general public."

The first of its kind in Northern Ireland to be procured using the Design Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) form of Public Private Partnership (PPP), the project set to be followed by a second DBFO package.

Three consortia, Highway Management (NI), Northern Roads Group 2005, and Amey Lagan Ferrovial, will be invited to tender for the £250 million package of schemes.

These include the upgrade of the A1 between Beechill, north of Newry and Cloghogue to high quality dual carriageway standard, along with the provision of four new flyover junctions and provision of a central reserve safety barrier between Sprucefield and Loughbrickland.

A second DBFO package will deliver the dualling of the A4 between Dungannon and Ballygawley and single carriageway realignments to the A4 at Annaghilla and A5 at Tullyvar.

It is anticipated that construction will commence on the Beechill to Cloghogue scheme in early 2007, with construction of the A4 likely to commence in 2008.

The Minister said: "These announcements are excellent news for the travelling public and for business, demonstrating my Department’s commitment to delivering the improvements to the Strategic Road Network outlined in the Regional Transportation Strategy."

Roads Service Chief Executive, Dr Malcolm McKibbin, added: "For both DBFO packages, our excellent local contractors have been joined in consortia by major players from throughout Europe.

"The quality of the consortia demonstrates the importance placed by Roads Service and the construction industry on the delivery of these important projects."

(SP)