Londonderry-Dungiven A6 upgrade begins

The A6 scheme will include a bypass around Dungiven

Work is under way on a major new road linking Londonderry and Dungiven.

Starting at the Co Derry village of Drumahoe, the 15-mile (25.5km) section of the A6 dual carriageway scheme will include a bypass around Dungiven.

The existing road carries around 15,000 vehicles per day.

The upgrade, which is expected to take four years, will cost £220m, according to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

'Four years'

Colin Hutchinson, strategic roads improvement manager for the DfI, said road users can expect an 11-12 minute cut in journey times between Dungiven and Drumahoe when the work is completed.

"Schemes of this nature do usually take time," Mr Hutchinson told BBC Radio Foyle. "There have been issues with the availability of finance.

"The scheme that was announced in 2005 goes the whole way to Caw so there's another 7km on top of what we're delivering today.

"There will be major economic benefits because of this work. There will be some disruption because of the work of course and there will be traffic management in place.

"Work has already started in the Foreglen direction. I expect to see sections of the road open before the end of the four year deadline. That's all down to the progress that the contractor makes though."

Colin Hutchinson said the first sod was to be cut on Wednesday afternoon

The existing road carries around 15,000 vehicles per day.

The second phase of work continues from Drumahoe to Maydown and then to Caw.

In February, BBC News NI was told that nine homes and 13 businesses are needed to make way for the road, affecting a total of 230 people and 760 acres of farmland.

The department said it has been working closely with all the property and landowners to make sure they are accommodated.