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Niall McCracken reports for BBC News NI as a Mid Ulster Reporter. A crucial decision regarding the future of the A5 road scheme is anticipated to be delivered today by a judge. This £1.2bn project received approval from Stormont ministers back in October of the previous year. Nonetheless, a group of residents and landowners initiated legal proceedings against the dual carriageway a month later.
With more than 50 fatalities occurring on the A5 since 2006, advocates have been advocating for the road’s upgrade. Initially announced in 2007, the project has faced several setbacks. A coalition of local residents, landowners, and farmers launched a new challenge against the commencement of construction work. The umbrella group, known as the Alternative A5 Alliance, argued that the road project would violate legislative goals outlined in the Climate Change (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The A5 is a critical component of Northern Ireland’s road infrastructure, spanning over 58 miles (94km) with over 200 connecting side roads. This route, linking Londonderry with Aughnacloy in County Tyrone, passes through various towns like Sion Mills, Omagh, and Strabane. The road serves as the primary north-south connection in the western part of Northern Ireland, linking County Donegal with Dublin via the N2 in County Monaghan. Despite its significance, the A5 has remained largely unaltered since the 1960s, leading to a substantial increase in traffic volume over the years.
The proposal for a new A5 dual carriageway was first introduced nearly two decades ago, sparking ongoing debates between those advocating for improved road safety and others expressing concerns about the environmental and agricultural impacts. Approximately 1,200 hectares of land are projected to be utilized for constructing the full 85km A5 carriageway, affecting over 300 operational farms. Opponents like the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A) have emphasized the potential loss of ancestral lands and environmental repercussions linked to the large-scale construction. Additionally, concerns have been raised about unresolved issues regarding flood plains near the new road’s location. Police data have underscored driver accountability as the leading cause of accidents on the A5, highlighting the need for enhanced road safety measures
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