The frustration of local residents at the progress of a £1.2m scheme on the main crossborder route has been voiced again this week. 

Some residents have been claimed to be “trapped” in their homes by ongoing works, others who use the road daily and refer to the road surface as “shaking the guts out” of their vehicles.

This week the Department for Infrastructure, the agency with responsibility for roads announced a 40mph speed limit for six months listing roadworks to take place at Derryhawlaght. 

Councillor Chris McCaffrey explained, “People are frustrated with the length of time it is taking. This is going on around six years. This is a main commuting road for a lot of people and this is having adverse affects on peoples daily lives. 

“At Derryhowlaght hill especially the road surface has been left to get into an unsuitable condition. It is unsuitable not just for motorists but pedestrians and cyclists.

“There is a woman living there who has basically been trapped by all the construction work that is going on, or not going on. My sympathies are with her. 

“This has taken an inordinate amount of time for what people would assume are simple enough resurfacing works.”

Referring to the temporary 40mph speed limit Cllr McCaffrey said, “The road surface is diabolical and you know it is coming up because you feel it in your car shaking. It is probably a case that although there is a 40mph speed limit there people were having to slow down to that speed anyway just to pass the road safely. 

“I welcome that work is happening but would urge DfI to get this roads issue completed.”

At a recent special Council meeting with DfI Roads an outline of works presented states, “This scheme to realign the carriageway will improve road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and HGVs. 

“The scheme length is 800m and the estimated cost is £1,200,000. Two phases of surcharging have now been completed with the final phase of surcharging undertaken in March 2019. 

“The ongoing monitoring period to assess settlement at the site will be reviewed again in December 2019.”