15 March 2004

Minister opens £18 million Toome Bypass

NIO Minister, John Spellar today opened the eagerly awaited £18 million Toome bypass.

It is hoped that the new 'Toome Bridge' will cut motorists travelling times between Belfast and Londonderry via Toome by up to 20 minutes during rush hour traffic.

The 3.5 km dual carriageway will cater for approximately 22,000 vehicles per day (including a high percentage of heavy goods vehicles), which previously would have passed through the village.

A prominent feature of the new bypass is a 99 metre span bowstring arch bridge over the Lower River Bann, which will undoubtedly become a landmark structure. The bridge deck is sufficiently high to allow continued recreational boating on the river and to allow free passage for anglers and ramblers along the riverbanks.

Commenting on the bypass, Mr Spellar said: “The Toome Bypass is, by far, the most significant improvement to the road infrastructure in Northern Ireland since the completion of the Belfast Cross Harbour Bridge, (M3 bridge) in 1995.

“The A6 route is of significant strategic importance to Northern Ireland, connecting the two principal cities of Belfast and Londonderry. This bypass will substantially reduce journey times on the North Western Key Transport Corridor and provide a safer and more pleasant environment for those who live and work in Toome.”

Measures taken to limit environmental impact included the creation of grassland areas with wild flowers, low noise road surfacing and highway lighting with full cut-off lanterns to minimise light spillage on to adjacent areas.

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