The main road between Scarva and Loughbrickland which has been closed for a number of months is expected to reopen at the start of April, the Department of Infrastructure has confirmed.
The Legananny Road has been closed ever since the severe flooding that occurred last November, creating a great deal of disruption for motorists and buses to the nearby New-Bridge Integrated College.
Before Christmas, contractors started working on the road subsidence but a snag was hit with a water mains, pausing the work for a time.
A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said: “The essential works on the Legananny Road include a culvert replacement scheme, masonry retaining wall improvements and the associated carriageway reinstatement. It is hoped that the works will be completed in early April weather permitting.”
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart says she has been working with local residents and schools to ensure the road opens as soon as possible.
She commented: “I would like to thank DFI staff for their ongoing assistance on this issue and thank local residents for your patience. I know this has not been a simple situation to resolve because of the intricacies of the work and the unavoidable delays with weather and additional NIW works but I am pleased good progress is being made.”
She added: “I have continued to stress the need for it to reopen as soon as possible as it is impacting travel times, New-Bridge Integrated School bus routes and the roads being used as unofficial diversionary routes are in a terrible state.
“All other roads impacted by this closure will be assessed in due course for maintenance/surfacing given the extra traffic they have carried during this period of sustained closure of the Legananny Road. I know this has been a long process but I am pleased we are nearing completion.”
