With the Winter weather still in sight the scheme continues to make progress in the planning and construction of the A6 D2D Scheme.  Over the course of the last few weeks we have been focusing on operations such as fencing to close site boundaries in the following areas:

• Between Tamnaherin and Gortilea
• Between Ballyhaedin and Munreery
• Feeny Road to Dungiven
• Claudy towards Burntollet

Site clearance apart from an area in Brackfield and Burntollet has been completed throughout the scheme to make way for the construction works.

Several permanent and temporary diversions for various utilities have been designed and are being constructed on site to facilitate the earthworks operations.  Further diversions are currently being designed with each utility company and are programmed for construction within the coming months.

Earthwork activities have increased, with cut and fill operations ongoing at Drumahoe, Foreglen, Munreery and Derrychrier in preparation for the following structures:

• S10 – Landowner underpass
• S11 – Gortilea overbridge
• S12 – Ballyhanedin overbridge
• S14 – Altagarron underbridge

S10 underpass excavation

Temporary bridges over the Owenbeg and Owenrigh Rivers are in the process of being installed and should be operational by end of March.

Owenrigh temporary bridge piling operations     

Other works such as the construction of the culverts at Drumahoe Park and Ride has now been completed and culvert works are continuing at Altagarron Road.

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Installation of culvert at Altagarron

Further works are underway across the scheme, with the construction of access tracks between Killunaght and Ovil Hill and Feeny towards Dungiven and Munreery progressing.

In addition, environmental works are ongoing with continual mitigation measures being installed and maintained for watercourses and environmentally sensitive species.

Noise level monitoring is taking place throughout the scheme to minimise disruption and inconvenience to residents, businesses and wider local community.

The A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe project staff brought a little bit of festive cheer to those who needed it most.  Over the Christmas period our staff rallied together to help raise funds totalling £300 for local charity ‘Hands That Talk’ by holding a Christmas Jumper Day.  In conjunction with this they supported the annual Christmas Toy Appeal where they collected hundreds of pounds worth of toys to help make a child’s Christmas extra special this year. 

The construction team have spent the last few months focusing on facilitation works which involve environmental surveys, locating essential utility supplies, earthworks, site clearance and the construction of site access roads and fencing

Site clearance is an important part of the preparation works to ensure the construction phase can run to schedule, however, in order to minimise to effect on the environment and local communities, our priority has been focused on the environmental surveys that are conducted to protect the wildlife and minimise any effects on their surrounding habitat.

As part of the pre-construction works site fencing has progressed considerably, particularly on both sides of Feeny Road and at Derrychrier to allow construction works to begin on accommodation lanes for landowners. 

Earthwork activities are continuing behind Foreglen and working westerly. Areas such as Feeny Road have also seen increased activity in earthworks in preparation for the installation of the temporary bailey bridges over the Owenbeg and Owenrigh Rivers.

Other works progressing include construction of culverts at Drumahoe and Foreglen, enabling a number of water courses to be safely diverted away from the new road.

Site clearance has also been undertaken to make way for the works, which will be replaced as part of the landscaping at the completion of the scheme.

A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe Project staff were savouring the flavour in hosting their first coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The staff whisked up batches of goodies along with thousands of other people across the country to raise monies to help in the fight against cancer.

Macmillan Cancer Support is a leading charity that provides specialist healthcare, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. As well as helping with the medical needs of people affected by cancer, Macmillan also looks at the social, emotional and practical impact cancer can have, and campaigns for better cancer care.

Sacyr, Wills Bros, Somague Joint Venture have been making progress across the scheme in preparation for the construction phase, with the walkover site survey and ground investigations, which forms part of the early site investigation process now complete, the project were able to progress with earthworks.

Temporary fencing has been erected in zones A and E to secure the site and protect the public, workers and livestock. Utility diversions have been carried out and accommodation works to reduce the impact of the road scheme on adjoining landowners have also commenced. In addition to this the site compound has been established and is located on the Foreglen Road, Killaloo.

Given the scale of the site construction will take place alongside some community boundaries. Planning and managing the construction work is key to minimising any impact on local communities and will ensure the safety of those communities living in close proximity to the works.

As such, there may be times when it is necessary to close, restrict access or divert roads, footpaths and cycle routes to ensure the safety of the general public during the construction works.

Similarly, there may be times when construction works temporarily increase noise and vibration in the vicinity of the works. Noise and vibration levels are subject to local authority control and will be monitored by SWS JV.

We thank you for your ongoing patience during these works and ask if you have any concerns to please contact us.

Altagarron and Crock Na Brock Road Closure 

The Altagarron and Crock Na Brock Road will close to all road users from the 12th November for approximately 6 months.

This traffic management is required to facilitate the excavation and replacement of material under the footprint of the existing road.  This will provide a suitable foundation to construct the side road structure S14 Altagarron Road Underbridge.

The closure will also facilitate the movement of unsuitable material including peat to allocated tip areas.

A signed diversion will be in place via the Ballyhenedin Road.  The Diversion will operate in both directions.

Temporary Traffic Management to take place across the A6 mainline

There will be temporary traffic management in the following locations from 12th November 2018 for approximately 2 weeks to facilitate Geotechnical Investigations.

• Wide grass verge adjacent to Tirbracken junction with A6
• A6 west bound between Burntoliet and Tamnaherin Road
• A6 east bound 400m west of Claudy junction
• West bound lane and verge closure for approximately 2 days between the hours of 9-30-16.00 for safety zone.