The Minister for Infrastructure has been urged to advance with the A5 Western Transport Corridor project ahead of a potential election this December.
Members of Derry and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) held a special meeting with the Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, on Wednesday, October 19 calling for the minister to 'urgently progress' the project for public safety.
The project was first proposed 14 years ago, and plans to link Derry and Aughnacloy and improve connections in the North West.
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The meeting heard how 32 lives have been lost on the A5 since 2011, with five of those coming in recent months.
It's understood that a significant upgrade to the road would save 19 lives, prevent over 2,000 collisions and avoid over 2,700 injuries in a six-decade period.
However, calls for the project progression come as the Department for Infrastructure could be set for a reshuffle with a potential pre-Christmas election on the cards.
It is reported that the Electoral Office has told parties here that the election is likely to be on December 15 due to the current Stormont shutdown.
Acknowledging the need for the road project to move forward, Mr O'Dowd said it had become "quite clear" that the A5 as it is was "not fit for purpose".
“If we are to economically develop Derry and the west then we need proper road infrastructure to do so and the new A5 will be proper road infrastructure to allow inward investment," he told the meeting.
"Foreign direct investment into that part of the world to create well-paid jobs and to give an economic return to people who live in that area.
In September 2020, the Department received an Interim Report from the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) on its findings from the Public Inquiry held in February and March 2020.
It contained two key recommendations, in relation to the need for further assessments of flood risk and scheme alternatives.
It's understood that there were around 220 responses in total to the public inquiry, with the minister telling DCSDC members that the majority of those came from individuals or groups who objected to the A5.
Meanwhile, the Infrastructure Minister said that this "was not a true reflection of the public support" for the proposal and added that every time legal action is taken by one particular group, it further delays the project by a year to 18 months.
The public inquiry is set to restart in January 2023, with public participation encouraged to help the project progress at an increased pace.
“I want to reassure Council members and the public that my officials are working closely with the PAC to ensure that the reconvened public inquiry is held as soon as possible," Minister O'Dowd added.
"Receipt of the PAC’s final report should then allow a new Ministerial decision to be taken and, subject to the successful completion of all the necessary statutory processes and environmental assessments, we could commence construction of the A5 in early 2024 with completion of the scheme by 2028."
Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley has encouraged public participation for the reconvened A5 public inquiry.
The West Tyrone MP said: “There is widespread support for the delivery of the A5 upgrade and Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has outlined that the A5 is a key priority for his department.
"The vast majority of people support this project, I would encourage the public to make their voices heard by attending the public inquiry.
“It is deeply frustrating that progress on the road upgrade has been delayed by legal challenges for some time now.
“The public inquiry should allow for the project to proceed quickly, so that we can eventually see the delivery of this project.
“The upgrade will save lives and ultimately allow for this notoriously dangerous road to be safer, but open up huge opportunities by connecting the North-West to the rest of the island and help to attract investment.
“We cannot allow for any more unnecessary delays. Delays will ultimately result in lives being put at risk. All efforts must be made to ensure there are no more fatal accidents on this road and the upgrade is delivered immediately following the inquiry.”
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