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Roadworks for 33 weeks causing 'major disruption'

BBC Brian McCluskey, who has a silver beard, is wearing a grey zip-up sweater with a Men's Shed logo on his left crestBBC
Brian McCluskey, who is involved in Ballykelly’s Men’s Shed, says the roadworks are causing major tail backs

Roadworks which are estimated to last for 33 weeks are already causing major traffic disruption in Ballykelly, County Londonderry, some people in the village have said.

The roadworks are part of the Department for Infrastructure's (DfI) Active Travel Scheme which extends approximately 2.6km (1.6m) along the A2 Clooney Road from Carnamuff Road to the Vale Road, Greysteel.

Ballykelly Men’s Shed is located just off the Clooney Road and welcomes men from across the north west every Tuesday and Thursday.

Treasurer Brian McCluskey said the roadworks, which started on Monday, are already affecting so many people, including some of their members who live locally and those commuting outside the village.

What roadworks are planned for Ballykelly?

BBC News NI has approached the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) for comment.

The DFI previously said the project is aimed at improving access for pedestrians and cyclists by installing cycle-lanes and greenway paths. Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said the project would help boost tourism in the Ballykelly and Greysteel areas.

It is estimated that the work, which will also include resurfacing of existing roads, will cost about £2.6m.

Previously, the DfI said to "facilitate the work temporary traffic management will be in place from 30 September 2024 for a period of 33 weeks". They said delays were expected but they were trying to "minimise inconvenience".

Temporary traffic lights have been installed on the Clooney Road to allow two opposite lanes of traffic to merge into a single lane while the work in the road continues.

However, some commuters and residents in Ballykelly have told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today that the system is already causing issues for motorists.

Roadwork sign
The roadworks are scheduled to last for about 33 weeks

Commuter Carol McGimpsey said she spent 15 minutes in the one-way traffic light system travelling with her daughter to school.

“I’m up and down the road a lot with her,” she said.

“If this is going to be happening for weeks and weeks then that’s us having to leave earlier each day just to make it in on time.

“It’s annoying but what else can you do?”

Brian McCluskey said the roadworks were adding a lot of time on to people's journeys.

”You feel sorry for people here who maybe have appointments at Altnagelvin Hospital and need to travel because they need to leave so much earlier to make sure they get there on time - you could be talking about leaving an hour earlier if it's peak time on the roads," he said.

”There's always been congestion on that road and this [the roadworks] is just causing more issues.”

Mr McCluskey said he could not understand why the remedial works were not scheduled to be carried out in the summer months or at least at night time when the road would be less busy.

'Traffic flow is a real issue'

Brian Moore lives near the Clooney Road in Ballykelly and told BBC News NI the queues of traffic were getting ridiculous.

”Traffic flow is a real issue,” he said.

“The traffic can get really busy at times and can be queued all the way back from practically one end of the village to the other.

“I personally don’t think it’s been well managed.”

Mr Moore believes the work needs to be done in a phased way, with the road fully open in the morning and when people finish work, in order to better manage traffic build-up in the area.

Brian Moore smiling and wearing a brown zip-up cardigan and standing in front of trees
Brian Moore lives locally and says roadworks being carried out in Ballykelly are causing massive queues of traffic

Michael Campbell, from Ballykelly, said the traffic in the village was “appalling“ at the minute.

“You don’t know how long you‘ll be held up every time you leave the house,” he said.

“People I know are really complaining about this and I do think it’s unacceptable.”

Ballykelly roadworks 'very much needed'

Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Nicholl told BBC Radio Foyle's breakfast programme that he “fully understands people’s frustrations” but said the work was very much needed.

“There is probably never going to be a right time to do a scheme of this magnitude,” he said.

He said there would always be a "knock-on effect" given that this is "one of the busiest arterial routes linking Derry and the Causeway coast".

“I know they are saying this is a 33 week scheme but they are doing everything they can to get this done as quickly as possible.

"The work will eventually continue past Ballykelly and progress toward City of Derry Airport to help connect cycle paths and green ways along the whole route."