Press release

A5 WTC is "a road to nowhere"

31 July 2012

Friends of the Earth has described the proposed new A5 Western Transport Corridor, announced today (Tuesday 31 July 2012) by Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy, as a "road to nowhere."

At the press conference today, the Minister announced two new stretches of dual-carriageway - 15km between New Buildings and Strabane, and 23km from Omagh to Ballygawley.

The road project, the biggest single infrastructure project in Northern Ireland's history, would involve cutting an entirely new dual carriageway alongside the existing A5, disrupting and destroying hundreds of businesses, farms and homes, as well as protected habitats, built heritage, and archaeology. It would also bisect and block existing routes that are vital to communities who live along the entire stretch of the road.

Friends of the Earth Director for Northern Ireland, James Orr, said: 

"To build vast stretches of new road when our existing transport network is struggling to cope is to tarmac our way straight down a dead end street. Perversely, the proposed scheme will likely make congestion worse, as motorists converge on the bottlenecks at the ends of each stretch of new road."

Mr Orr added:

"The wisdom of this solution to the problems of the existing A5 has not been proven, and cheaper, less disruptive options were not even considered. Yet this massive new road will wreck hundreds of farms and divert much needed investment from public transport and for improving existing roads. By not exploring alternatives such as improved rail links, access to a modern bus service, better walking and cycling, straightening dangerous bends, and filling in the potholes, we will be left with a hugely expensive metaphor for the lack of direction or vision of the big four political parties. By the DSD's own admission, this single project will have a negative impact on Northern Ireland's poorest and most vulnerable, (such as the elderly, disabled, and unemployed) as it sucks vital funds from across the transport network.

"The government says it wants a modern economy, and a fairer and fitter society, yet by modern European standards our transport policy is most definitely on the road to nowhere."

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Limited