BY AILEEN MURPHY
Some £7 million is to be made available to spend on Fermanagh's roads, the new Regional Development Minister has announced. Conor Murphy, released news of the investments following a meeting between the Roads Service and Fermanagh District Council last night.
The Minister announced that work would commence this year on a £1.7m road widening scheme at Henry Street, Enniskillen, where it is proposed to provide an additional lane on the western approach to the town.
This scheme will assist in reducing the traffic queues that currently exist at peak times on Henry Street/Sligo Road.
The Road Service's Divisional Roads Manager, Pat Doherty welcomed the continued high level of investment in the Fermanagh District Council area, and identified a number of other schemes which will be taken forward in the area in the 2007/2008 financial year.
These include the 2+1 overtaking lane on the A4 at Faughard and the provision of a roundabout at the A32/B82 junction at Trory. Resurfacing schemes will also be carried out on the A32 Irvinestown Road at Thornhill and on the A509 Derrylin Road at Drumbrughas.
Mr Doherty commented: "Roads Service faces some very significant challenges over the next few years as it gears up to deliver a demanding programme of Strategic Road Improvements while planning to restructure in line with the outcome of the Review of Public Administration".
He reported that the Strategic Road Improvement Programme envisaged an investment of £1.4billion across Northern Ireland in the period up to 2015.
Around £1billion of these schemes have already been identified, and a consultation on a further £400million of schemes was completed at the end of 2006. In addition, the Southern government's National Development Plan for 2007-2013, contains proposals on the inter-urban routes linking the main population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the North West.
Mr Doherty reminded Councillors the proposed Review of Public Administration will transfer responsibility for the maintenance and development of local roads to the seven new Councils in May 2009.
He estimated this transfer would gobble up approximately 23,700km of the total 25,000km of public roads in Northern Ireland.
However, with Enniskillen currently crippled by road works, the investment might not be to everyone's liking.
But, Mr Doherty sounded a reassuring note: "Despite these challenges, Roads Service will continue to concentrate on scheme delivery in the Fermanagh Council area. To minimise the disruption that will arise from our works, we will also be making every effort to give motorists advance warning of roadworks through signage and information prior to works".
He added that there would be updated information on Roads Service website and in radio traffic reports.'
He then highlighted some of the schemes taken forward in 2006/07.
These include the provision of a right turn lane and improved visibility at Ballycassidy Bridge, as well as traffic calming schemes at Brookeborough, Clabby and the Coleshill/Windmill Heights/Rossory Church Road area in Enniskillen.
Members heard that significant resurfacing schemes were also completed on the A509 Derrylin Road at Kinglass, and on the A46 Lough Shore Road at Corry, Belleek and Binmore.
