A6: Londonderry-Dungiven road 'could open' in late April

The first phase of the project, between Randalstown and Toomebridge, opened in 2019

The new A6 road between Londonderry and Dungiven could open at the end of April, according to a Department for Infrastructure (DfI) official.

The DfI's Kaine Lynch said that was the deadline it was working towards, "subject to any unforeseen circumstances".

The 15-mile (24km) stretch is part of the A6 road that links Derry and Belfast.

It was due to open last autumn and there has been frustration over delays.

The new stretch of road mostly runs parallel to the existing road and includes a bypass of Dungiven.

Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Wednesday, Mr Lynch, the DfI's director of major projects and procurement, said he understood the concerns of "local people and the travelling public".

"They have waited a long time for the upgrade and understandably want to know when it will open," he said.

'Largely complete'

His comments follow an interview with DUP MP Gregory Campbell on BBC Radio Foyle on Tuesday. He said officials from the department had warned him that, in a worst case scenario, the road would open in July.

Mr Campbell also criticised a lack of transparency on the issue.

"We're now virtually in the spring of '23 and they're still not giving a final deadline," he added.

The A6 scheme includes a bypass around Dungiven

Following Mr Campbell's comments, Mr Lynch said a road safety audit was now in process and that the main line construction work was "now largely complete with the exception of road signs and street lighting connections".

He said "the end of April" was the target the DfI was now working towards to open the road to the public.

"The street lighting connections will be complete within the next fortnight. Now the signs won't be complete until next month, but we are running that road safety audit process in parallel.

"We have already identified minor issues in terms of that road safety project and we are actively working towards those."

Air pollution

The road opened with speed limits and lane restrictions for a short period in summer 2022, but then later closed again as work continued.

On Tuesday, the head of a Dungiven community group said there have been two consecutive weekends of major traffic disruption around the town due to the road works.

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Mairead McCormack, who is chief executive of Glenshane Community Development, said locals were deeply frustrated by the traffic, with its associated noise and air pollution.

"Last Friday there were two sets of traffic management schemes in Dungiven, with four-mile tailbacks," she said.

"There is really no need when you have a perfectly good road that could be open at times like that.

"We're concerned that there's no transparency as to why the bypass has not been opened. We are taxpayers, we should be informed as to why there are issues and what the issues are."

'Combination of issues'

Mr Lynch said there are many factors as to why there has been delays to the road opening, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, the increased costs of building materials and some materials being in short supply.

"We have had supply issues in terms of the signs, we have also had inefficiencies with working in quarantine and all the rest. It's a combination of issues in terms of the delays we are dealing with today."

The department said in a statement: "The scheme is well advanced and mainline construction work is now largely complete with the exception of a proportion of road signs and street lighting connections.

"We have recently commenced the road safety audit process, which must be completed before the road can be opened.

"Subject to any unforeseen circumstances, the current programme indicates the road could open at the end of April."