New legal A5 challenge to delay start of works

The Department, in November, had revealed that it was planning to start the £150m Phase 1A of the project, which involved dualling the stretch of road between Newbuildings to north of Strabane, within weeks.

A spokesperson for the Department has now confirmed: “Construction work on the section between Newbuildings and north of Strabane was due to commence in early 2018 with a view to completion in 2020, however, the department has now received a legal challenge to the scheme which it intends to defend.

“The department is currently seeking legal advice on this matter and will be making no further comment at present, although this is likely to delay the timetable for the scheme.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that it has appointed Joint Venture Contractors Balfour Beatty/BAM/FP McCann to undertaken Phase 1A of the project, adding that Phase 1A “has an estimated cost of £150m to deliver.”

Foyle Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion said the A5 project was “vital” and had received widespread support.

The department for Infrastructure’s Permanent Secretary Peter May, meanwhile, said back in November, prior to the fresh legal challenge, that the decision to go ahead with the A5 Western Transport Corridor scheme “concurs with the Planning Appeals Commission recommendation that the scheme should proceed in the wider public interest”.

Both the Northern Ireland and Irish Governments, under the Fresh Start Agreement agreed in November 2015, have committed the funding for the first phase of the project.

The overall project is expected to see the A5 linked to the N2 south of the border and on to Dublin.