Enniskillen: A4 Southern Bypass work to go ahead, O'Dowd says

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has confirmed that construction will start in the summer of 2025 on the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass.

It comes 13 years after the bypass's preferred route was announced.

Mr O'Dowd said funding for the project was one of the first decisions made by the new executive and, as a result of that decision, "all lights are green."

The executive has agreed to provide £16.2m of capital funding and £12.5m from the Mid South West Growth deal.

"The 2.1km bypass will provide a new transport link to the southern side of the town, improving connectivity between the A4 Dublin Road and the A4 Sligo Road," Mr O'Dowd said.

"The transport link will also provide 3.5km of active travel measures for walking and cycling extending along the Dublin and Derrylin roads.

"Funding certainty for this scheme will now allow procurement to commence in April 2024, and the ability of my department to meet this timescale means that seasonal windows for earth works as well as works over and in water can be progressed to the most advantageous timeframes. "

Deborah Erskine, the DUP assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, welcomed the announcement.

"This investment will make a significant difference to Enniskillen, which can quickly become congested with traffic and will deliver an economic boost not just to the town but to the surrounding area," she said.

Ms Erskine secured a debate on the issue in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday and welcomed the timeframe for the construction work.

"It is welcome not just that the funding has been announced but there is a recognition of the need to move quickly in order to avoid costs from increasing further," she said.

"Everyone will warmly welcome the fact that it is now possible to move forward to the procurement stage and I will continue to monitor progress to ensure that we see work commencing on the ground as quickly as possible."

Ulster Unionist MLA for the area Tom Elliott also welcomed the announcement, saying this is "a key project" that "will have positive impact for Enniskillen and Fermanagh".

"The time for delay is over, the time for delivering is now," he added.