The Minister, who made a site visit to the two road improvement schemes near Ballygawley to mark completion of the realignment works, said: "The schemes which have taken just over two years to complete and cost approximately £13million, will greatly improve journey times to the west and south for the travelling public. This will be of significant benefit to both local motorists and strategic traffic.
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"The wider scheme has significant costs of £134million and shows a commitment to reversing decades of underinvestment in the west.
"This project continues to enjoy considerable local support from within the Dungannon area and is part of the ongoing strategy of improving the Strategic Road Network."
He continued: "The A4 dual carriageway is scheduled for completion before March 2011 and to date works have been progressing in line with the scheduled programme."
The A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley Dualling Scheme involves upgrading approximately 20.5km of the partially realigned A4 between Dungannon and Ballygawley to high quality dual carriageway standard, incorporating a number of fly-over type junctions and central median safety barrier.
Improvements to the A4 at Annaghilla will involve a 3.8km realignment of the A4 single carriageway route between Ballygawley and Augher, including an additional lane to provide an overtaking opportunity for east bound travellers.
Improvements to the A5 at Tullyvar will include a 3.1km realignment of the A5 single carriageway route between Ballygawley and Aughnacloy, including head-to-head climbing lanes either side of Tullyvar Hill.
(NS/BMcC)
