AQW 8610/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 12/10/2020
Answered On Date: 15/10/2020
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she will (i) suspend closure of Baranailt Road South as part of A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe Dualling Project; and (ii) explore alternatives in light of limited consultation undertaken and the impact that closure will have upon local communities.

Answer:

The closure of the lower Baranailt Road is essential to enable the construction of the new Claudy grade separated junction as part of the ongoing A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe Dualling scheme. For safety reasons it is not be possible to maintain vehicle or pedestrian access through the construction site when the road is closed and alternative construction methods have already been considered and ruled out.

Officials from my Department, along with staff from the Contractor, have been actively engaged with the community. Following notification of the closure a number of concerns were raised and in response an online ‘Zoom’ meeting was arranged with the community group Claudy Life, local residents, and a number of elected representatives. A number of concerns were discussed and staff from my Department are working to try to address them with mitigating measures. The Department will continue to work with the local community to minimise the impact of these works while also ensuring that works are completed in the quickest timeframe possible.