The 14.7km upgrade improves part of a key strategic route linking Belfast with the north west of the country. The first phase of the project between the M22 at Randalstown and Toome – north of Lough Neagh – opened last year.

Now the second phase – Toome to Castledawson – is almost complete and on Monday, Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon opened two lanes of a new 5km stretch of dual carriageway that was built offline.

This means traffic can now travel the entire length of the 7.5km second phase on upgraded road, explained the Department for Infrastructure’s project sponsor Dawson Wray, with this milestone having been reached a few weeks ahead of schedule.

Work continues on the remaining two lanes of the offline dual carriageway, while the traffic switchover allows work to also complete on three grade separated junctions as well as local road network upgrades. Further activity including landscaping work is also ongoing.

Nichola Mallon commented: “The construction of this flagship scheme will improve connectivity, contribute to the economic development of the area and bring long term benefits to road users and local communities. Crucially it will also improve road safety and improve regional balance.”

She added that the opening of the first phase of the scheme last August “has already brought significant benefits for road users, by enabling shorter, safer and more reliable journey times”.

She continued: “The opening of a further 5km of new dual carriageway to traffic is a massive step forward in the project and welcome news for the 20,000 vehicles using the route each day.”

Full completion of the £189M project – constructed by a Graham / Farrans joint venture – is expected in early 2021.

(Photograph: Graham / Farrans)