The Department for Infrastructure has begun two carriageway-resurfacing schemes worth a combined £469,000 on Rathmore Road and Scriggan Road in Limavady. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins says the works will “deliver significant benefits for residents and road users” and demonstrate the department’s commitment to keeping Northern Ireland’s road network in good repair.
Although the projects are relatively short in length, they sit on busy routes linking Limavady town centre with surrounding rural areas and the A37 and A2 arterial roads. Completion is scheduled for Friday 16 January 2026, subject to suitable weather, making next week a period of unavoidable disruption for local motorists and businesses.
Key Details of the Works
- Budget: £469,000 in total.
- Locations:
- Rathmore Road – 694 m from the Broad Road junction towards Church Street.
- Scriggan Road – 434 m between Rathmore Road and Dowland Road.
- Working window: Monday 12 January to Friday 16 January 2026.
- Scheduled completion: End of Friday 16 January 2026 (weather permitting).
- Minister’s comment: “This is a substantial investment for the Limavady area… I would like to thank residents, local businesses and commuters for their patience while this essential infrastructure work is carried out.”
Expected Disruption and Diversion Routes
Daily road closures will apply:
- A371 Rathmore Road – 09:30 to 16:30.
- U2510 Scriggan Road – 08:00 to 18:00.
Signed detours will route traffic via Broad Road, Windyhill Road, Ballykelly Road, Station Road, Church Street and Dowland Road, depending on direction of travel. The department advises drivers to allow extra time and to follow on-site signage.
Live updates are available on TrafficwatchNI.
What Is Still Unclear
- The announcement does not specify whether the £469,000 covers both roads equally or prioritises one stretch over the other.
- There is no indication of the resurfacing method or materials, so it is unclear how long the new surface is expected to last or whether recycled asphalt is being used.
- The department has not said whether the works include drainage improvements — a point of growing importance given the increased frequency of surface-water flooding events.
- No information is offered on pedestrian or cycle-safety enhancements, even though Rathmore Road links into Limavady’s town-centre active-travel network.
Wider Context: Road-Maintenance Funding Pressures
Resurfacing small but strategic stretches helps prevent more expensive structural failures later, yet Northern Ireland Audit Office data (2024) show an estimated £1.2 billion backlog in roads maintenance. While this week’s schemes are welcome locally, they highlight the piecemeal nature of funding allocations and the continued challenge of keeping up with an ageing network under budget constraints.
Elsewhere, councils and business groups have called for clearer multi-year maintenance plans to provide certainty to contractors and residents. It remains to be seen whether the forthcoming Executive budget will offer that longer-term stability or continue with year-to-year allocations.
Questions for Further Scrutiny
- How will the department measure the success of these resurfacing works in terms of reduced pothole reports or maintenance call-outs?
- What proportion of the £469,000 is earmarked for drainage and road-edge strengthening to improve climate resilience?
- Why are no temporary provisions mentioned for cyclists or pedestrians during the daytime closures?
- Given the reported maintenance backlog, what criteria were used to rank Rathmore and Scriggan Roads ahead of other roads in the Causeway Coast and Glens district?
- Could publishing a two- or three-year resurfacing schedule help residents and businesses plan around future works more effectively?
Looking Ahead
If the resurfacing stays on schedule, Rathmore Road and Scriggan Road should reopen fully by the evening of Friday 16 January. Motorists may want to monitor TrafficwatchNI for any weather-related delays. Longer term, attention will turn to whether the department can secure consistent funding to tackle the broader maintenance backlog and integrate climate-proofing and active-travel upgrades into routine resurfacing programmes.