AQW 54712/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 24/02/2016
Answered On Date: 15/03/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Regional Development to detail the funding which is available for the Dungiven bypass as part of the A6 scheme.

Answer:

The December 2015 Budget Statement contained a major flagship project to upgrade the A6 linking Belfast and Londonderry. Two major roads projects are planned to improve the A6, the Randalstown to Castledawson and Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway schemes.

The 2016/17 allocation will allow the A6 Randalstown to Castledawson scheme to commence in late summer/autumn 2016, subject to approval of the final business case. Work is ongoing finalising the detailed design, but the current estimate for this scheme is in the range £120m to £140m.

The indicative allocation for the A6 flagship project in the Budget Statement is £258m over the 2016/17 – 2020/21 period, thus approximately £130m is available for the Londonderry to Dungiven scheme. Work is currently underway to determine the extent of this scheme, including a Dungiven bypass, which can be delivered within this indicative funding allocation. It is envisaged that priority shall be given to construction from Dungiven towards Londonderry.