Action urged on road from Caledon to Aughnacloy

CONCERNS have been raised by an Ulster Unionist Assembly member about the extent of vegetation growth on the hard shoulder of the A28 Caledon Road from Aughnacloy to the village.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Rosemary Barton, has said that the failure of the Department for Infrastructure to maintain the surfaces of the hard shoulders had allowed the vegetative growth to take hold along the stretch.

But the Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon, said that financial pressures meant the work wasn’t considered a priority.

She also emphasised the severe budgetary constraints under which the Department has been operating in recent years.

“All work is prioritised to ensure the efficient use of budgets. The A28 Caledon Road has been maintained in accordance with this policy with actionable defects on the hard shoulders being repaired,” she said.

“Part of the road, which includes a stretch with hard shoulders, was surface dressed earlier this year (2021) but the hard shoulders were not included in the works.

“As a result, some vegetative growth has occurred and local officials will now consider if this needs to be considered for weed spraying next year (2022).”

The Minister said that the hard shoulders on the road would continue to be routinely inspected along with the carriageway and all defects meeting current intervention thresholds would be highlighted for repair.