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A6 Londonderry-Dungiven road to open before Easter holiday

dfi a6 road derry to dungivendfi
The 16-mile (25.5km) stretch of road will open on Thursday,

The new A6 between Londonderry and Dungiven will open later this week, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has said.

Work on the road started in 2018 and was due to be completed last autumn but has been beset by delays.

On Monday DfI confirmed the 16-mile (25.5km) stretch will open on Thursday, ahead of the Easter holiday.

"This is great news for the 15,000 vehicles using the route each day," a DfI spokeswoman said.

The opening of the Derry to Dungiven upgrade - part of the A6 road that links Derry and Belfast - will "bring long-term benefits for road users and the local community in providing shorter, safer and more reliable journey times," she added.

The A6 scheme will include a bypass around Dungiven
The A6 scheme includes a bypass around Dungiven

Starting at the village of Drumahoe, the 16-mile section of dual carriageway will include a bypass around Dungiven.

It was due to open last autumn and there has been frustration over delays.

The road opened with speed limits and lane restrictions for a short period in summer 2022, but then later closed again as work continued.

Department for Infrastructure Aerial view of section of A6 between Randalstown and Toomebridge,Department for Infrastructure
The first phase of the project, between Randalstown and Toomebridge, opened in 2019

The DfI spokeswoman added: "The Road Safety Audit process has been completed and the contractor will commence the process of removing cones and temporary traffic management arrangements on the morning of Thursday 6 April.

"The entire 25.5 kilometres of the road will be open for road users by Thursday afternoon with national speed limit in place".

She said the opening of the road means the department has invested around £440m in the Derry to Belfast road upgrade.

Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald said the opening is "positive news for Derry, Dungiven and the surrounding areas".

"Not only will this new road cut journey times between Belfast and Derry, it will improve the north west's connection to other parts of the island," she said.