Despite the fact that the £30 million in funding needed for the project is yet to be secured, the Department for Infrastructure is inviting members of the public and interested parties to a public information day this Thursday, 12th April from 10am to 9pm in the Waterways Ireland offices on Sligo Road. 

Development of the route of the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass, as it’s officially known, began in 2009, with the announcement of the preferred alignment being announced in June 2015. 

The purpose of the scheme is to provide a direct link between the A4 Belfast Road, near the Killyhevlin Hotel, to the east of the town and the A509 Derrylin Road west of the Erne River, a distance of approximately two kilometres. This will involve the construction of two new roundabouts, two river bridges and three accommodation structures. There will also be overtaking lanes provided at each end of the new road. It is anticipated the bypass will remove approximately 50 per cent of the traffic from the town centre, with the aim of reducing the current congestion. 

A Department spokesman said this week that the event will provide an opportunity for people to engage with Departmental staff and members of the Consultant’s project team on the draft Vesting Order, draft Direction Order and Environmental Impact Assessment on the proposed scheme.

Speaking ahead of the event, Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton said: “I have been consistently lobbying for progress on this proposed development for some time. This is positive progress on a key route development that would significantly improve the traffic flows in and around Enniskillen and encourage more people to actually come into the town for shopping and other activities.”