Work to dual a key section of road linking Belfast with Londonderry in Northern Ireland is due to start by the end of the summer, Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced.

 

A total of 14km of new dual carriageway will be built on the A6 between Randalstown and Castledawson, north of Lough Neagh.

 

The £130M project is due to be completed in two sections: 7.3km from the end of the M22 at Randalstown to the Toome Bypass; and a further 6.7 km to the Castledawson roundabout.

 

Ms McIlveen said: “Last month the Northern Ireland Executive announced a package of funding to take forward major flagship projects, including the Randalstown to Castledawson section of the A6.”

 

She added: “The A6 dualling scheme is a significant project that will help to remove a major bottleneck and so improve safety and journey times on this strategically important route.”

 

Last May saw a Graham/Farrans joint venture win a contract for the development of the project, the first phase of which was to assist TransportNI with completion of the design and have the scheme at a ‘shovel ready’ stage.

 

The Transport Minister added: “That detailed design work is progressing and now that the Executive has confirmed funding for this section of the A6, the scheme can move ahead with work on site expected to start by the end of the summer.”

 

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