AN ‘AMBITIOUS’ plan for road upgrades and improvements in Fermanagh costing nearly £4million pounds has been outlined.

 

Transport NI outlined their plans in a special meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. These plans are to be carried out between 2016 and 2018.

 

 Delivering the plans, network divisional manager Seamus Keenan highlighted that these plans are, “ambitious due to greatly reduced capital funding.”

 

 In total 86 initiatives have been outlined. The initiatives for Fermanagh alone include five carriageway improvements, six sightline improvements, work to seven footways, three cycleways, three traffic calming initiatives, work to 12 bridges and one safer routes to schools project which encompasses Holy Trinity Primary School, in Enniskillen.

 

 During the 2015/16 financial year £874,000 has been spent on resurfacing works, while £740k has been allocated for local transport and safety measures within the Fermanagh and Omagh District. Approximately £1.13million was invested for the bridge management section, with bridge replacement work to Corry bridge, Kinawley due to commence in early 2016.

 

 Transport NI Divisional manager Conor Loughrey said, “Based on current funding levels, it would not be possible to deliver all of the schemes included in the draft programme over the 2015-16 period. The Division will however continue to bid for additional funding and plan ahead by developing schemes in terms of design and land acquisition to ensure that we are well placed to utilise additional funding should it become available.”

 

 Throughout the meeting councillors called for upgrades to roads in their areas, a number of which they suggested were dangerous and in need of better footpaths, lighting and road structures.

However it was repeatedly reiterated by the representatives of Transport NI that there budgeting constraints were a major factor.

 

 One major road improvement scheme includes carriageway widening to the A4 Dublin Road, Enniskillen and one which could cause considerable congestion to the town. Currently the road carries 18,000 vehicles per day between Gaol Square and Wickham Link Road in the town.

 

 Transport NI hope to improve the flow of traffic and road safety through work carried out, which will include additional carriageway lanes at Dublin Road and Wickham Place.

 

 However a date for this work has not been confirmed.

Road schemes proposed
The road schemes proposed with estimated costs include:
• Enniskillen – Carriageway widening improvements to A4 Dublin Road, £600,000.
• Sligo Road / Rossorry Link Road – Improvement of right turning and footway provision, £120,000.
• Derrylin Road (Derryhawlaght) – Realign carriageway to improve road safety, £1,200,000.
• Derrylin Road / Inishmore Road – Junction improvement to reduce accidents, cost unknown.
• Dolan’s Ring, Enniskillen – Right turn lane, £150,000.
• Dernawilt Road / Tattycam Road – Slightline improvement, £25,000.
• Kilskerry Road / Fingerpost Road, Kilskerry – Improve sightlines in both directions, £20 000.
• Dernawilt Road / Aghadrumsee Road, Rosslea – Improve visibility, £15,000.
• Cullion Road / Clarnagh Road, Tempo – Improve restricted sightline when exiting from Clarnagh Road, £12,000.