That's all from our live coverage on today's A5 announcement.

What did we learn today?

• Stormont ministers have approved a £1.2bn upgrade of the A5 - which will include a dual carriageway
• About €600m (£500m) of that will come from the Irish government
• Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd says the first notice of planning will go out on 14 October
• Construction is set to begin on the project's first phase in early 2025
• First MinisterMichelle O'Neillsays the announcement marked a "momentous day"
• Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly adds it is "good news" for those both in the west and in Northern Ireland

Today's live coverage was brought to you by Judith Cummings, with help from writers Finn Purdy and Jessica Lawrence.

You can read more on the A5 upgrade here. Thank you for joining us.

Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor

Seventeen years after this project was first announced, Stormont's Executive has finally given approval for the work to commence on the A5.

And if Minister O'Dowd gets his way this time in five years we will see traffic travelling along a dual carriageway between Strabane and Ballygawley in the first phase of this upgrade.

The other phases, linking Londonderry to Strabane and Ballygawley to Aughnacloy, we're told will come at a later date but we're just not sure exactly when it's going to happen.

It's going to cost about £1.2bn, £500m of that is going to come from the Irish government.

We know work is going to get under way at the start of next year, there's some planning matters to deal with between now and then, but will it really happen?

There's a lot of people out there who are saying we've been here before.

Speaking to Niall McCracken in August, James Orr from Friends of the Earth said he had concerns about the environmental impact of the scheme.

An interim report from the public inquiry raised concerns about the issue of flooding.

Sections of the existing A5 have been disposed to historical flooding and there are a number of water courses crossed by or flowing adjacent to the proposed scheme.

"First and foremost I can understand the tragedies that have happened on that road... but I don't think this has to be about environment versus humans," said Mr Orr.

"I think the opportunity is there to have a safe solution to make the existing road safer.

"If a new carriageway goes ahead we'll see the destruction of wildlife corridors, the destruction of trees and the huge issue of it being built near flood plains."

West Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine says the planned upgrade will "deliver essential road safety improvements and will help save lives" on the busy road.

The DUP representative, who chairs the assembly's infrastructure committee, says engagement with landowners is key.

"A number of weeks ago, I hosted a very positive meeting between those whose land will be vested and the Minister," Erskine added.

"It is important that this constructive engagement continues, and that the very valid concerns of landowners are addressed."

Fellow DUP MLA Tom Buchanan also says the news will bring "clarity" for landowners, and it will deliver "positive outcomes for the west and north-west".

The Alliance Party's infrastructure spokesperson Peter McReynolds MLA, says today's announcement is "incredibly welcome".

"With the obscene and unacceptable level of loss we’ve witnessed on the A5 in particular, this announcement can't come a minute too soon," he says.

"What we now need to do is work together as an Assembly and Executive to ensure the works start and finish promptly in an effort to improve our road infrastructure, reduce collisions, and ultimately, save lives.”

The BBC has contacted The Alternative A5 Alliance, a group of farmers and residents in County Tyrone behind previous legal challenges to the A5 upgrade, for their reaction to today's news.

The group say they are "unable to make any comment until we have sight of the Public Accounts Committee Report and Mr O’Dowd’s full statement".

"We understand that the Department for Infrastructure has been in receipt of the PAC Report for the best part of a year but same has not yet been released to the public," they say.

"We trust that the report shall now be released."

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says the most important part of today's announcement is the "action that follows it".

"This road needs to be delivered, there is no other alternative and people must understand that the people who live in my constituency have not got alternative ways of transport," he tells Evening Extra.

"They must travel on the A5, it runs through the heart of this constituency and it is the most dangerous road on these islands.

Niall McKenna chairs the A5 campaign group Enough is Enough.

He says there is a "catastrophic mix" of traffic using the road, as well as many roads which join onto the A5 and that plans should take inspiration from the nearby A4 road, which had been upgraded to become a dual carriageway.

Mr McKenna says the £1.2bn price tag is "value for money".

"You cannot put a cost on life," he adds.

Angela O'Neill, whose mother Kathleen died on the A5, calls today's announcement a "huge relief".

Kathleen McGarvey was killed after crossing the road to go to mass in January 2018 when she was hit by a car.

She died from her injuries two weeks later on 27 January.

Speaking on Evening Extra Ms O'Neill says that the news is tainted with sadness, but that it will ultimately save lives.

"This is a notoriously dangerous road and just to know that it will be safe for the communities who live along it, people who travel and for further generations is just great."

O'Dowd has said the total cost of the project is still to be finalised following engagement with contractors, but that his department are currently projecting a cost of £1.2 billion.

"I am confident that we will be able to secure the funding, and have the funding to move forward with that is what is a vital piece of infrastructure within this society," he says.

Asked about when the road upgrade will be complete, O'Dowd says: "You're looking at probably five years of intensive construction work along this part of the route."

"And after that there will be some continuing work." he adds.

O'Neill says the upgrade is a "good news story" and should be vindication for all those who have campaigned on the issue as well as those who have lost their lives.

She says she regrets it has taken so long.

Little-Pengelly adds that is a "strong message" from a united Executive and the upgrade will offer safe connectivity for those who use the road.

"But of course to the land owners and to the farmers it's very difficult," she adds.

"Vesting of land is difficult for families and for farmers in many cases the land has been in families for many generations... but ultimately this road will benefit everyone throughout Northern Ireland."

O'Dowd says the first section of the project covers "over half of the total project, 34 miles out of the total 53 miles".

He adds that he will make formal decisions on the remainder of the project in due course.

O'Dowd is asked about the overall cost of the road's upgrade and if this announcement is a "false dawn".

He says the first notice of planning will go out on 14 October, with construction to begin "early in the next year".

He adds that the executive has spoken with "one voice" to get the road built.

The Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd says the project is about "saving lives".

He says the first part of the project will begin between Strabane and Ballygawley, which is half of the total project, as this is where many of the deaths and injuries have taken place on the road.

Emma Little-Pengelly says the A5 upgrade will be good news for "people in the west of the province and indeed across Northern Ireland".

She says it will "improve connectivity" and "address road safety issues".

She adds the project is "very much what this executive is about".

O'Neill says the setbacks have been well documented but today's announcement is "turning a new chapter" to full enjoy the benefits of the road.

She says the four-party executive have come together for the common good and work on the road is "ultimately about saving lives" in addition to the economic benefits it will bring.

Michelle O'Neill has said it is a "momentous day" as the executive has approved the A5 project.

The first minister paid to pay tribute to all those families who have lost a loves one on the road.

"Every life lost on the road is too many," she said.

The podiums at Stormont Castle are in place, and we are expecting to hear from Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd within the next couple of minutes.

It is understood that he will announce that the A5 road upgrade has received executive approval.

You can follow the press conference live, by clicking on the Watch live button at the top of this page.

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI's Mid-Ulster reporter, live from Omagh

For several months the minister has been in the process of considering the final recommendations of a public inquiry into the A5.

He has previously been on the record stating his support for a long time now for a safer A5 road project and said delays around the final recommendations have been the result of what he said were "detailed, legal and professional reviews".

What we're reporting at the minute is that it is understood the upgrade will include a full dual carriageway in one of the first phases, that's nearly two-thirds of the scheme's full length between Strabane and Ballygawley in County Tyrone.

For details on what happens to those other sections of the road, we'll have to watch and listen.

The proposed dual carriageway has been beset by funding issues and legal challenges.

Last week John O’Dowd confirmed that the preparatory work had been completed and he was just awaiting Executive approval before publishing the plan.

He said his recommendation to approve the project was based on improving road safety for all those who travel along the route.

Image source, PA Media