Derry Road Set To Bypass Dungiven

With official figures showing that about 15,000 vehicles pass through the Co Londonderry town of Dungiven every day, new road structures are long overdue on this part of the main Londonderry to Belfast route.

Today, NI Roads Minister Conor Murphy (pictured) has announced the long-awaited 'preferred route' for the proposed 30 kilometre Derry to Dungiven dual carriageway, including a dual carriageway bypass of Dungiven.

Speaking in Dungiven, the Minister said: "This is great news for the people living in the north west region.

"I know how much this means for local people who I have met with with many times to hear at first-hand their desire to progress this major road development. Today's announcement is a key milestone in the planning of this major road scheme for the northwest.

"Delivering balanced regional infrastructure is a key objective of my Department. Tackling regional disparities and reversing decades of under investment west of the Bann is vital.

"This investment is central to the Executive's priorities for Derry and for the northwest, as a whole, in maximising and realising its full economic potential.

"Selection of the preferred route proved challenging as there are many important environmental features and of course a rich and varied landscape in the northwest," he said, noting that, when the scheme opens, there will be a marked change in traffic through the town, with the bypass eventually removing up to 10,000 vehicles per day.

"Traffic related pollutants are expected to reduce significantly for many properties in Main Street and beyond.

"Air quality will improve with pollution dropping below National Air Quality Standards at all locations in Dungiven," he said.

• The new route is to begin with a new junction on the A2 Clooney Road, 1.4 kilometres east of the Caw Roundabout and crosses over the Ardlough Road, River Faughan, and the Mobuoy Road, turning southwest along the east side of the Faughan Valley to Drumahoe.
• From Drumahoe, it continues parallel to and north of Lismacarol Road to join the existing A6 at The Cross and continues to Claudy as online dualling (a new carriageway built alongside the existing road), passing through Burntollet where it crosses over the Burntollet River at the existing Burntollet Bridge.
• East of the Baranailt Road, the preferred route moves just south of the existing A6, passing to the south of Foreglen, Dernaflaw and the Derry GAA Centre of Excellence at Owenbeg it then crosses over the Feeny Road and continues east, crossing over the Owenrigh River, Magheramore Road and the River Roe.
• It continues north of the River Roe, crossing over Priory Lane and connecting to the existing A6 Glenshane Road east of Dungiven.
• Meanwhile, bypassed sections of the existing A6 will become local roads, providing easy access to the many properties and farms along the road.
• Local and school buses will continue to use the bypassed roads. Some alteration will be required to the local road network.
• These are expected to include a new junction to connect the new road to the A2 Clooney Road dual carriageway.
• The A2 Clooney Road will be improved in each direction between this junction and Caw Roundabout and new grade-separated junctions east of Drumahoe, at Tamnaherin Road, Gulf Road, Baranailt Road, Ballyhanedin Road, Killunaught Road and Feeny Road will connect to the local road network.
• Finally, a new roundabout at Chapel Road will provide safe transition from the new dual carriageway road to the existing single carriageway road.

(BMcC/JM)