A2 Ballykelly Bypass

Scheme Update (last Updated 26 March 2010)

26 March 2010

On the 26 March 2010, Transport Minister, Conor Murphy announced the preferred route for the proposed A2 Ballykelly Bypass (view press release here).  The preferred route is 4.2km of dual carriageway that passes Ballykelly to the south of the village. A proposed junction at the Loughermore Road will provide access to and from the dual carriageway.

Roads Service held a public exhibition to present the Preferred Route, in the Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, on 26 March 2010.  Information displayed at this public exhibition event is available to view here.

To download the Preferred Route Announcement’ leaflet click here.

February 2009

Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy has announced the preferred corridor for the proposed bypass of Ballykelly.  Speaking on Wednesday 11 February 2009, the Minister said “I am pleased to report that the first key milestone, which is the production of a preliminary options report including recommendations for a preferred corridor to the south of the village, has been met”. To read the news release click here.

Background

The A2 forms part of the Northern Key Transport Corridor linking the Belfast Metropolitan Area to Londonderry via Coleraine.  The existing corridor is a mixture of motorway, dual and single carriageway.

The Ballykelly bypass is one of several schemes that have been identified for the northern corridor in the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan 2015 (RSTN TP) and is included in the Investment Delivery Plan (IDP) for Roads.  Roads Service and their Consultant advisor ‘Aecom' (formally known as Faber Maunsell) are working together to deliver the scheme.

Scheme Proposals

To consider all available options a scheme assessment is being carried out.  This is a three stage appraisal procedure, which compares various options based on the government’s five key transport objectives of environment, safety, economy, integration and accessibility.  This begins with an examination of broadly defined corridors, progressing through the selection of a ‘preferred route’ to detailed environmental assessment and design.  Although construction is not expected to commence until near the end of the Investment Strategy period (2017/2018), initial assessment work was brought forward due to the planned disposal of lands at Shackleton Barracks by the Ministry of Defence.  At the moment, the assessment will be limited to the selection of a preferred route (end of Stage 2).

The assessment process includes:

• A Stage 1 "Preliminary Options" assessment.  An assessment of two viable corridors (namely the Northern Corridor and the Southern corridor) has been carried out.  This resulted in the Southern Corridor being taken forward to Stage 2.  To download the Stage 1 Public Consultation Leaflet click here(924kb).  To download the Stage 1 Scheme Assessment Report click here.

• A Stage 2 "Preferred Route" assessment.  This is being carried out at present and involves more detailed assessment including surveys to identify the key effects and factors to be taken into account when selecting and comparing various route options within the corridor.  The Department plans to complete Stage 2 in determining the “preferred route option” by the end of this year.  An announcement on the “preferred route” is planned by early 2010.  To download the Stage 2 Public Consultation Leaflet click here (1063kb).

• A Stage 3 assessment.  This will involve further design development of the "preferred route". This stage of assessment requires preparation of an Environmental Statement, production of a Draft Direction Order and Draft Vesting Order (Statutory Procedures).