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21/11/2006
New dual carriageway opens in County Down
A new six mile stretch of dual carriageway on the A1 in Co Down costing £25 million has been officially opened today.
The opening marks the full completion of the dual carriageway between Loughbrickland and Beech Hill.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Regional Development, Mr Gerry McGinn, said: “The completion of this significant length of new road, from Loughbrickland to Beech Hill, marks a further step in my Department’s commitment to provide a dual carriageway from the M1 at Sprucefield to the Border.”
The scheme was opened by the Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Councillor Michael Carr, and the Chairman of Banbridge District Councillor, Council Patrick McAleenan.
A £33 million scheme to provide a high standard dual carriageway with grade-separated junctions for 5km from Cloghogue to the Border is currently under construction.
This is part of the Newry to Dundalk Cross Border Link Road Project.
Mr McGinn continued: “I am also pleased today to confirm the successful conclusion of the statutory procedures for four further new junctions on the A1 at Hillsborough, Dromore, Banbridge and Loughbrickland. The completion of land acquisition procedures for the £109 million scheme to complete the remaining section of the route between Beech Hill and Cloghogue to high standard dual carriageway with grade-separated junctions is anticipated before the end of 2006. Work is expected to begin on the ground in Spring 2007.”
The provision of a safety fence in the central median of this road is also planned and a strategy for closing up gaps in the central median, at both public road junctions and private accesses, is being developed.
Due to the safety issues involved in opening a high speed road of this length to traffic it will take some time before contraflow traffic management arrangements can be safely removed and the new dual carriageway made fully available. In the meantime the public are asked to carefully observe the existing contra-flow traffic arrangements.
(EF)
The opening marks the full completion of the dual carriageway between Loughbrickland and Beech Hill.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Regional Development, Mr Gerry McGinn, said: “The completion of this significant length of new road, from Loughbrickland to Beech Hill, marks a further step in my Department’s commitment to provide a dual carriageway from the M1 at Sprucefield to the Border.”
The scheme was opened by the Mayor of Newry and Mourne District Council, Councillor Michael Carr, and the Chairman of Banbridge District Councillor, Council Patrick McAleenan.
A £33 million scheme to provide a high standard dual carriageway with grade-separated junctions for 5km from Cloghogue to the Border is currently under construction.
This is part of the Newry to Dundalk Cross Border Link Road Project.
Mr McGinn continued: “I am also pleased today to confirm the successful conclusion of the statutory procedures for four further new junctions on the A1 at Hillsborough, Dromore, Banbridge and Loughbrickland. The completion of land acquisition procedures for the £109 million scheme to complete the remaining section of the route between Beech Hill and Cloghogue to high standard dual carriageway with grade-separated junctions is anticipated before the end of 2006. Work is expected to begin on the ground in Spring 2007.”
The provision of a safety fence in the central median of this road is also planned and a strategy for closing up gaps in the central median, at both public road junctions and private accesses, is being developed.
Due to the safety issues involved in opening a high speed road of this length to traffic it will take some time before contraflow traffic management arrangements can be safely removed and the new dual carriageway made fully available. In the meantime the public are asked to carefully observe the existing contra-flow traffic arrangements.
(EF)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
