Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has reiterated her dedication to delivering the A1 Junctions Phase 2 Scheme following a meeting with road safety campaigners.

The Minister met with Monica Heaney, Sinead Lunny, and Cllr Joy Ferguson, who have been active in calling for urgent upgrades to the route.

The A1 has been the site of numerous collisions over several years, leading to significant loss of life and serious injuries. During the meeting, the Minister acknowledged the impact these tragedies have had on families and communities across the region.

Addressing concerns regarding the timeline of major projects, Minister Kimmins explained that the department is currently awaiting the outcome of an appeal related to the A5 project. She noted that it is essential to consider this legal outcome to ensure that the A1 scheme proceeds on a firm footing, avoiding potential challenges that could cause further delays or increased costs.

To ensure the project remains ready for progression, the Minister has instructed officials to extend the restricted list of tenderers for a period of 12 months. This contingency measure keeps the procurement process live while the A5 appeal is underway, allowing work to resume at any stage. Minister Kimmins said: "Every death on our roads is a profound loss to families and communities and unfortunately the A1 is a road where, over the years, too many collisions have occurred, and too many lives have been forever changed by loss or injury.

"I welcomed the opportunity to meet with Monica, Sinead and Cllr Ferguson to provide an update on the scheme. I greatly admire their courage in sharing their heartbreaking experiences and I wholeheartedly support their call for safety upgrades. I am committed to delivering this scheme.

"I appreciate that some of the public commentary on the impact of the A5 appeal on major projects has caused some concern. However, it is vital that we get this right.

"It is critical that we consider the outcome of the appeal before taking the next steps. We do not want to be in a scenario where we face challenges on everything, which would further delay the projects and increase costs.

"I recently instructed my officials to extend the restricted list of tenderers for a period of 12 months, continuing to keep this important scheme live, pending the outcome of the A5 appeal. This is a contingency measure to keep the scheme live whilst the appeal is underway. The procurement process can be resumed at any stage.

"I remain as committed as ever to the delivery of this vitally important road safety upgrade."