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13/09/2002
DRD reveals private sector potential for new roads
The Regional Development Minister has said today that around £190 million worth of new road schemes could be provided in partnership with the private sector.
Peter Robinson made his comments as he revealed that DRD officials are taking forward proposals for the injection of private sector funding, resources and expertise to help deliver the £400 million of strategic highway improvements identified in the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002-2012.
Speaking at the Presidential Conference of the Institution of Highways and Transportation at the Odyssey Complex in Belfast, he said that current thinking pointed to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), involving Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) approach.
Mr Robinson said: “A number of capital road schemes, mainly along key transport corridors, could be bundled together to produce a package of measures with a minimum value of £40-£50 million each. It is estimated that around £190 million worth of such road schemes could be provided in partnerships with the private sector.
“It is also possible that the maintenance of all or part of the corridor could be subsumed within any longer term contract.”
The Minister said that he was also pressing ahead with plans for public transport as outlined in the Road Transport Strategy (RTS).
He said: “I have set the wheels in motion for a scoping study on a range of options for Belfast’s rapid transit network to be carried out.
“The RTS earmarked £100 million for the commencement of the network over the next 10 years and the scoping study would identify the likeliest options that would go to full economic assessment and evaluation. The project has already been identified as being potentially attractive for private sector investment."
Mr Robinson's announcement was welcomed by SDLP spokesperson for Regional Development, Joe Byrne. However, Mr Byrne called upon the Minister to ensure that the A5, the main arterial route in West Tyrone, receives the necessary funding to upgrade it to dual carriageway standards.
He said that West Tyrone did not have any dual carriageway and that the Minister would have to ensure the necessary capital funding is made available to upgrade the route.
(MB)
Peter Robinson made his comments as he revealed that DRD officials are taking forward proposals for the injection of private sector funding, resources and expertise to help deliver the £400 million of strategic highway improvements identified in the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002-2012.
Speaking at the Presidential Conference of the Institution of Highways and Transportation at the Odyssey Complex in Belfast, he said that current thinking pointed to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), involving Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) approach.
Mr Robinson said: “A number of capital road schemes, mainly along key transport corridors, could be bundled together to produce a package of measures with a minimum value of £40-£50 million each. It is estimated that around £190 million worth of such road schemes could be provided in partnerships with the private sector.
“It is also possible that the maintenance of all or part of the corridor could be subsumed within any longer term contract.”
The Minister said that he was also pressing ahead with plans for public transport as outlined in the Road Transport Strategy (RTS).
He said: “I have set the wheels in motion for a scoping study on a range of options for Belfast’s rapid transit network to be carried out.
“The RTS earmarked £100 million for the commencement of the network over the next 10 years and the scoping study would identify the likeliest options that would go to full economic assessment and evaluation. The project has already been identified as being potentially attractive for private sector investment."
Mr Robinson's announcement was welcomed by SDLP spokesperson for Regional Development, Joe Byrne. However, Mr Byrne called upon the Minister to ensure that the A5, the main arterial route in West Tyrone, receives the necessary funding to upgrade it to dual carriageway standards.
He said that West Tyrone did not have any dual carriageway and that the Minister would have to ensure the necessary capital funding is made available to upgrade the route.
(MB)
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