PLANS to build a new dual carriageway between Derry and Belfast is expected to take three-and-a-half years to complete, says Transport NI.
Over 100 landowners will have their land vested before work begins on the A6 road in just over six months time.
The new dual carriageway will replace the existing road from Castledawson in Co Derry to the M22 motorway to Belfast.
Transport NI has said it hopes the work will begin at the end of this summer.
But before work can start, the vesting of land and potential archaeological issues must first be resolved.
Project manager Andrew Hitchener said: “We will continue to work with landowners to engage with them and try to accommodate any of their concerns within the scheme.
“There’s in the region of 120 agricultural and non-agricultural landowners that will be affected.
“At the start of the scheme, we will be doing archaeological work to clear the site to ensure there’s no delays further along the scheme.”
Around 8.7 miles of new dual carriageway will be built.
The road will have five major junctions and flyovers.
A park-and-ride at Toomebridge will be relocated.
The target is to have the road open by late 2019 or early 2020.
Mr Hitchener added that given the size of the work “our experience is it takes approximately three-and-a-half years, so that will be a guideline.”
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