Councillor Raymond Farrell stands beside the Mossfield Road (main A32 road to Irvinestown) RMGFH342
The much maligned A32 road between Enniskillen and Omagh is to get yet another upgrade, the realignment of a 2,000m stretch between Irvinestown and Dromore at a cost of £600,000.
However, while the travelling public will welcome further improvement, users of the A32 regret that, at the time the new acute hospital was built at Enniskillen, a proper upgrade was not carried its entire length.
Since the hospital opened its doors on 21 June 2012, the road has undergone upgrades at several locations, one a major upgrade of the Mossfield Straight.
SWAH has 312 in-patient and day case beds, and draws in-patients and out-patients from all across west Tyrone. As a result, the road is widely used, not least by paramedics.
One staff member, who asked not to be named, said he did not know what could be done with the road, other than a major scheme.
“They did a job a couple of years ago on the Mossfield Straight, and it didn’t last. Coming into Dromore, some of the bends are still there and I would say compared to the average road in Northern Ireland, it’s no better.”
Fermanagh & Omagh district councillor, Raymond Farrell – who lives in Ballinamallard – welcomed the consultation.
“ I have campaigned and articulated at every opportunity and platform on the need for investment in this stretch of road between Omagh and Enniskillen and, particularly, to improve the carriageway between the South West Acute Hospital.
“I hope it is another forward and progressive step on my goal to see a state of the art route between the county towns of Enniskillen and Omagh.”
The £6m scheme allows for bus stops and associated lay-bys on the new section of carriageway.
The start date was dependant on the successful completion of the necessary statutory procedures, a detailed economic appraisal, and funding.
The consultation period runs until Friday 16 October, 2015.
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