Work should begin on A5 project - O'Dowd tells Executive

The Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has said helium has recommended to the enforcement that enactment should statesman connected the long-delayed A5 roadworthy project.

But O’Dowd said portion helium had initially hoped the enforcement could person agreed to his connection connected Thursday, helium said it could instrumentality “slightly much time”.

The 58-mile (85km) dual carriageway betwixt Londonderry and the borderline astatine Aughnacloy was archetypal announced successful 2007, but has been beset by backing issues and ineligible challenges.

O’Dowd said helium expects to beryllium capable to marque an announcement successful the “very adjacent future”.

Before the curate tin let enactment to begin, helium needs support from the wider Stormont Executive arsenic the substance is significant.

He made his comments astir the task to pupils from St Ciaran’s College successful Ballygawley, County Tyrone, connected Thursday, who were gathering the curate to property for the enactment to commence.

They presented 54 crosses to the minister, each representing those who person mislaid their lives connected the roadworthy since 2007.

One of them was for Kamile Vaicikonyte, a twelvemonth 13 pupil, who died successful a clang connected the A5 earlier this year.

O’Dowd told the pupils that each his preparatory enactment was done and that his insubstantial recommending the task statesman enactment was present with the executive.

“I’d hoped the insubstantial would beryllium earlier the enforcement contiguous (Thursday) - determination is simply a important magnitude of item and it mightiness instrumentality somewhat much time, but I bash expect a determination to beryllium made successful the precise adjacent future,” helium told them.

He said his proposal was based connected improving roadworthy information for each those who question on the route.