A5 costs spiral to £80million
Over £80 million has now been spent on the delayed A5 dual-carriageway since the scheme was first developed just over a decade ago, with a total of £51 million of this going towards consultants.
The figure has been described by one local Assembly member as ‘alarming’ in light of the fact that work on the major infrastructure project has been delayed again following the publication earlier this year of the latest Planning Appeals Commission report.
It comes after the Department for Infrastructure instructed its staff to prepare further reports on the topics of flood risk and possible alternatives in line with the recommendations put forward by the PAC.
A5 costs spiral to £80million ulsterherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ulsterherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Stormont Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon has said despite further legal delays, the A5 upgrade could still be finished by 2028.
Responding to an Assembly Adjournment Debate moved by West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer, Ms Mallon said the further consultations and reviews sought by the Planning Appeals Commission can be completed by the end of next year, with construction getting underway in 2023.
Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs suggested that Phase Three of the project should be abandoned on foot of issues raised by the PAC.
This was rejected by Nicola Mallon:
record.
Taking place via an online forum on Wednesday (April 7) senior party figures including West Tyrone MP, Órfhlaith Begley and MLAs, Maolíosa McHugh and Declan McAleer met with Minister Mallon, with Ms Begley saying that she had expressed her disbelief at yet another public inquiry into the A5.
Last month, Nichola Mallon reaffirmed her commitment to progressing the proposed dual carriageway, after it emerged that the public inquiry into the muchdelayed road scheme will have to be reopened early next year.
Advertisement
The SDLP MLA was speaking after the publication of an interim Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) report into the proceedings of last year’s public inquiry into the project, which was held over seven days in February and March 2020.
record.
Taking place via an online forum on Wednesday (April 7) senior party figures including West Tyrone MP, Órfhlaith Begley and MLAs, Maolíosa McHugh and Declan McAleer met with Minister Mallon, with Ms Begley saying that she had expressed her disbelief at yet another public inquiry into the A5.
Last month, Nichola Mallon reaffirmed her commitment to progressing the proposed dual carriageway, after it emerged that the public inquiry into the muchdelayed road scheme will have to be reopened early next year.
Advertisement
The SDLP MLA was speaking after the publication of an interim Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) report into the proceedings of last year’s public inquiry into the project, which was held over seven days in February and March 2020.