Flood hit roads in NI to benefit from funding boost

More than £1 million will be invested in roads in Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland following recent serious flooding.

The Northern Ireland Executive allocated the funding to the Department for Regional Development to develop a package of road improvements to mitigate against future flooding.

Transport Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “This significant investment by the Northern Ireland Executive in the roads and drainage infrastructure is very welcome news.

“As a result of the additional funding, TransportNI is developing programmes of work to raise key roads and to carry out local drainage works. This is to help ensure that, in the event of future flooding of the scale seen over the last two months, roads will remain passable, avoiding the need for lengthy diversions.”

In Fermanagh, an allocation of around £625,000 is planned to be spent on key roads impacted on by flooding. This includes the B127 Derrylin Road Lisnaskea; the B533 Wattlebridge Road, Newtownbutler and the C436 Inishmore Road, Maguiresbridge.

The Minister continued: “These roads will all be raised and, in addition, a number of other local schemes will be carried out to deal with areas where localised flooding cuts off the local community from schools, churches and shops.

“Fermanagh will not be the only area to benefit, as a range of drainage improvements have been identified for parts of Armagh, Dungannon, Downpatrick, Newry and Banbridge including a scheme to address flooding on the A1.

“Together, I believe this major package of improvements will help to considerably lessen the difficult and distressing impacts that severe flooding has on our community.”