Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced public exhibitions in Strabane and Derry later this month to gather feedback on new route options for the northernmost section of the troubled A5 Western Transport Corridor. The engagement process covers the stretch between Newbuildings and Sion Mills—known as Section 1—where previous plans are now under review due to flooding concerns and the passage of time.
The announcement comes as the wider £2.1 billion dualling project remains mired in legal uncertainty. The High Court quashed the Department for Infrastructure’s decision to proceed with the southern sections of the scheme in June 2025, ruling that the plans failed to demonstrate compliance with Northern Ireland’s statutory climate targets under the Climate Change Act 2022. An appeal by the Department is ongoing, with the Court of Appeal having remitted specific evidential issues back to the High Court for further determination earlier this year.
Exhibition dates and venues confirmed
The Department will host two days of exhibitions to present emerging route options for the 15-kilometre Section 1 corridor:
- Wednesday 27 May 2026, 11:00 am to 8:30 pm at the Fir Trees Hotel, Dublin Road, Strabane BT82 9EA
- Thursday 28 May 2026, 11:00 am to 8:30 pm at the Everglades Hotel, Prehen Road, Derry BT47 2NH
For those unable to attend, all project information boards and feedback questionnaires will be published online from 27 May 2026 at www.A5WTC.com. The Department emphasises that all feedback will inform the Stage 2 Scheme Assessment and help determine the preferred route for this section.
2023 inquiry prompts route reassessment
The review of Section 1 options follows recommendations contained in the 2023 Planning Appeals Commission report into the A5 scheme. That inquiry highlighted flooding concerns along the previously identified preferred route through the Foyle valley, necessitating a fresh look at alternatives.
The Department is keen to stress that this preparatory work applies only to Section 1 and does not affect the ongoing court proceedings relating to the Strabane to Ballygawley sections. However, officials acknowledge that as the project progresses, it will take account of the outcome of the legal appeal.
Safety imperative drives preparatory work
Minister Kimmins has framed the continued progression of Section 1 as essential to road safety, citing the dozens of fatalities on the existing A5 since the project was first approved in 2007. Campaign groups estimate that 70 people have died on the route since 1998, with the road widely regarded as one of the most dangerous in Ireland.
In a statement, Minister Kimmins said:
“I remain fully committed to the delivery of the A5 Western Transport Corridor project. My priority is to get the road built and to save lives.
“While part of the scheme is the subject of an ongoing legal challenge, this does not preclude us continuing to progress as much preparatory and early assessment work as we can on the section between Newbuildings and Sion Mills. This includes taking forward the recommendations from the 2023 public inquiry report which includes assessing alternative route options. As the project progresses it will take account of the outcome of the legal proceedings going forward.
“There are a few important reasons why we need to press on with this preparatory work. Saving lives on the existing A5 remains a priority, and the need to make progress has been recognised in recent court proceedings. Additionally, the assessments, engagement and consultation stages take time and starting them now helps avoid unnecessary delays later.
“My Department will host two days of public exhibitions to give members of the public the opportunity to provide feedback to the project team about the new route options being considered. These events will be held on Wednesday 27 May in Strabane and Thursday 28 May in Prehen, Derry. For those unable to attend, the information will also be published online with details on how people can respond formally also provided.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to engage with this process as all feedback received will help to inform the ongoing design and assessment of the new route options ahead of any final decisions being made.”
Climate compliance questions remain
While the Minister’s statement emphasises momentum, significant questions remain unanswered. The source material does not clarify how the new route options for Section 1 will address the fundamental legal barrier that stalled the southern sections: the requirement under Section 52 of the Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 for public authorities to demonstrate that major infrastructure projects contribute to emissions reduction targets.
The High Court’s June 2025 judgment found that the Department had relied on “aspirational assumptions” rather than concrete evidence that the road could be consistent with Northern Ireland’s pathway to net zero by 2050. It is unclear whether the Section 1 assessment will incorporate new methodologies to satisfy this statutory test, or whether the Department is proceeding on the assumption that the Court of Appeal will overturn the earlier ruling.
Additionally, the press release offers no detail on how long the current “preparatory” phase will last, nor whether construction on Section 1 could realistically begin before the legal challenge to the wider scheme is resolved. With costs already estimated at over £2.1 billion—funded partly by a €600 million pledge from the Irish Government—further delays risk additional inflationary pressure on the budget.
Critical questions facing the project
- Will the new route options for Section 1 incorporate specific design or mitigation measures that explicitly address the Climate Change Act compliance issues that blocked the southern sections?
- How will the Department ensure that preparatory work on Section 1 does not become redundant should the Court of Appeal uphold the quashing of the wider scheme decision?
- Can Section 1 proceed as a standalone project if legal challenges continue to delay the Strabane to Ballygawley sections, or does the economic case depend on the full corridor being completed?
- What mechanisms are in place to ensure landowners and residents affected by the new route options receive timely compensation, given the prolonged uncertainty created by the ongoing appeal?
Next steps for the consultation
The immediate focus for interested parties is the public exhibition period at the end of May. Residents, businesses, and community groups in the Newbuildings and Sion Mills area have until the exhibitions conclude to submit formal feedback that could shape the final route selection.
Beyond the consultation, all eyes remain on the Court of Appeal. The outcome of the Department’s challenge to the June 2025 ruling will determine whether the A5 project can proceed in its current form, or whether a fundamental rethink of how major road schemes demonstrate climate compliance is required. Until that judgment lands, the future of Northern Ireland’s most controversial road project remains as uncertain as the traffic on its dangerous bends.