News

A road building project began on Monday on the A29 between Dungannon and Cookstown.

The scheme will see a 1.8km section of the road realigned to bypass the notorious Carland Bridge. Traffic crossing the bridge over the Torrent River must negotiate a right angle bend which can only be achieved by lorries which can only be achieved by lorries using the full width of the road.

The building project will see a new bridge being built over the River Torrent 140 metres northeast of the existing bridge to facilitate a stretch of road 7.3m wise with 1m hard strips. All six junctions on the route will have right turn pockets.

The go ahead for the scheme had initially been announced in February 2008 however it has been subject to a series of delays. Finally in July the Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, announced that construction would get underway in August.

The cost of the project has also been subject to revision. Originally billed at £4m the projected cost was increased in March of this year to £5 million.

In a brochure released to inform the public of the scheme the Roads Service said the closures of the Annaginney, Tullycullion and Creevagh roads as well as existing sectors of the A29 should be expected.

Speaking to the Courier a spokesperson from the Department of Regional Development said: "At Carland, the existing A29 consists of a series of bends and narrow verges. In particular, the existing bridge at the junction of Lisnagowan Road is located at a right angled bend, which has become known as a 'bottleneck' especially during peak hours during which only a large vehicle can pass at any one time.

"The proposed scheme is needed to divert traffic away from this bend, thereby removing a dangerous hazard to traffic, also to reduce congestion and improve the amenity to residents in the surrounding area."

It is predicted that the construction of the new road will take 16 months with completion expected in December 2010.

Source: Tyrone Courier
Date: Wednesday 12 August 2009