Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced a £250,000 carriageway resurfacing scheme for the A6 Castledawson Roundabout, with work set to begin on Monday 18 May 2026. The project, which also includes a short section of the A54 Magherafelt Road, comes amid ongoing concerns about safety at this busy junction connecting the main Belfast to Derry route with local traffic.
The announcement marks the latest in a series of road maintenance investments by the Department for Infrastructure, following the allocation of over £30 million in December 2025 and a further £2.5 million in February 2026 for essential repairs across the network.
Work Schedule and Traffic Management
The resurfacing work will be carried out in two distinct phases to minimise disruption, though significant traffic delays are expected:
- Night-time works: Monday 18 to Saturday 23 May, from 7 pm to 6 am
- Daytime works: Sunday 24 May, from 6 am to 7 pm
During these periods, the roundabout will be closed to all traffic. Translink services at the Castledawson Park & Ride site will continue to operate during night-time works, but will be suspended at this location on Sunday 24 May between 6 am and 7 pm. Commuters wishing to use public transport during the daytime closure should instead use the Maghera or Toome Park & Ride sites.
Signed diversionary routes will be in place for both northbound and southbound traffic. Northbound traffic on the A6 Dual carriageway heading towards Maghera, Dungiven and Derry will be diverted via the B183 Hillhead Road, Knockloughrim Road and Knockloughrim Link Road. Northbound traffic for Magherafelt will follow a separate diversion via B183 and B182 Hillhead Roads, Blackpark Road, Creagh Road and B18 Aughrim Road. Southbound traffic heading towards Castledawson, Magherafelt, Toome and Belfast will be diverted via Knockloughrim Link Road, Hillhead Road and B183 Hillhead Road.
Additionally, the A54 Magherafelt Road will be closed at the roundabout between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Monday 25 May, with local diversions in operation. The Department has stated that work should be substantially complete by Monday 25 May 2026, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Minister’s Statement
Minister Kimmins emphasised the importance of the investment for the local area. She said:
“This is a substantial investment for the Castledawson and Magherafelt areas which will deliver significant benefits for road users. The investment demonstrates my commitment to investing in and improving our road network, which is vital for connecting our businesses and communities. I would like to thank residents, local businesses and commuters for their patience while this essential infrastructure work is carried out.”
Safety Context and Design Concerns
While the press release frames the scheme as routine maintenance, the timing is notable given recent safety concerns at the Castledawson Roundabout. The junction has been the site of serious traffic collisions, including a two-vehicle crash in August 2025 that hospitalised five people and prompted temporary road closures. Local residents have previously raised concerns about traffic approaching the roundabout at excessive speeds, with some calling for more significant interventions such as traffic lights or grade-separated junctions rather than surface-level improvements.
The A6 route between Belfast and Londonderry is a strategic transport corridor, with traffic volumes varying from 12,000 vehicles per day at Castledawson to 17,500 per day further east. The roundabout represents a critical junction where the dual carriageway from Toome meets local roads, yet it remains a surface-level junction while other sections of the A6 upgrade feature grade-separated flyovers.
Broader Investment Programme
This £250,000 scheme forms part of a larger programme of road maintenance announced by Minister Kimmins since taking office in February 2025. In December 2025, the Minister provided over £30 million for road improvements, including £4 million specifically targeted at rural roads. A further £2.5 million was allocated in February 2026 for essential maintenance following severe weather conditions.
The Minister has also launched a consultation on a new Road Maintenance Strategy, which she describes as a “transformative new approach” focusing on delivering higher-quality repairs rather than spreading resources too thinly. However, major capital projects such as Phase 2 of the A6 dualling scheme (extending the dual carriageway from Drumahoe to Maydown) remain unfunded with no construction anticipated before 2030.
Unanswered Questions
Several questions remain following the announcement:
- Will surface-level resurfacing adequately address underlying safety concerns at this junction, or does the collision history warrant more significant design changes such as traffic signals or grade separation?
- How will the Department ensure that local businesses in Castledawson and Magherafelt can maintain access during the daytime Sunday closure, particularly given the suspension of Park & Ride services?
- Does this maintenance indicate a pause in more ambitious upgrade plans for the A6 corridor, or will this junction eventually be replaced as part of the long-delayed Phase 2 dualling scheme?
- Given that 58% of utility company street works notifications in the Mid Ulster Council area were deemed unsatisfactory upon inspection during 2024/2025, what measures are in place to prevent newly resurfaced roads from being dug up shortly after completion?
Road users can find further information about this and other improvement schemes via TrafficWatchNI. While the immediate resurfacing will provide temporary relief for road users, the broader condition of Northern Ireland’s road network—and the strategic bottleneck at Castledawson—suggests that more substantial investment decisions will be required in the coming years to match the Minister’s stated commitment to “Better Roads” as one of her seven Foundations for the Future.