Costs of Londonderry road would rise significantly if postponed to 2016

THE cost of the multi-million pound Londonderry to Aughnacloy road project would rise significantly were the project postponed until 2016, according to the Roads Minister Conor Murphy.

By The Newsroom

Published 2nd Dec 2010, 11:10 BST

The Minister was responding to a suggestion by SDLP MLA Thomas Burns that money may be saved if the A5 Western Transport Corridor project was postponed until 2016.

He stated: "My Department's Roads Service has advised that postponing the A5 dualling project to 2016 would not result in any savings. On the contrary, it is expected that the construction and other related costs would increase significantly, should the scheme be postponed.

"Furthermore, a delay to the project would result in the associated benefits of improved road safety and shorter and more reliable journey times, not being realised.

"It is also likely that there would be a negative impact, in terms of economic regeneration, in the West."

Conor Murphy SDLP