Infrastructure Department slammed for shelving Buncrana Road dualling scheme

The Infrastructure Department has been slammed for "unilaterally" shelving the A2 Buncrana Road dualling scheme.

Derry City and Dtrabane District councillor Emmet Doyle (Aontú) said: "It really is beginning to seem that the senior voices in DFI will look for any excuse not to progress work in Derry from potholes to these strategic schemes that people have waited over a decade for.

"I don't buy the excuse that the Department are waiting on a new Transport Strategy.  The dualling scheme has been in the cards for around 15 years already, and the work needs to be done.

"The state of our roads is currently a disgrace.  Workers are doing all they can to progress cases but there seems to be radio silence from senior officials on any departmental work required in this City.

"The A2 scheme needs to be approved immediately.  Anyone who uses it on any given weekday at rush hour knows it is needed and it won't be lost on them that this unilateral move has been taken just when civil servants are warning of major cuts.  

"If similar schemes in the East are still going ahead then serious questions need to be asked."