Debate contribution: Road Infrastructure: Ballykelly and Kilrea

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Robinson on 27 January 2026.

MLA

Mr Alan Robinson

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

27 January 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Road Infrastructure: Ballykelly and Kilrea

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5345612

Read the official Assembly record

Text

People have said to me that the year-long delays that my constituents have had to contend with would not have happened in Belfast, had a major, key corridor required work in this city. One has only to recall the route that takes many MLAs to their place of work at Stormont: the A2 Sydenham bypass. That was a £3·2 million resurfacing scheme that involved significant evening and weekend work, and it was completed within six months just last year. One must ask why a roadwork contract for one of the busiest routes in Belfast can allow for night-time working, yet one of the busiest routes in the north-west appears to have had no such option for work to be carried out outside of rush hour, thereby minimising the huge upheaval for the people whom I represent. Minister, you and your Department's officials underestimate the anger in the north-west as a result of the works. I have been a public representative for more than two decades in that region, and I have seen a simple gully repair on that road cause traffic to be backed up for miles. Even I, as a layman with zero engineering expertise, could have predicted that 14 months of intensive work with lane closures and no opportunity for night working would be incredibly challenging for road users. Why, then, Minister, was your Department blind to the fact that it would descend into chaos for road users? Why was night-time working not bolted on to the contract? Even at this late hour, will you intervene and instruct officials to revisit the contract and have at least some work carried out beyond the rush hour? Your records will show that I have asked that question on several occasions. I am sorry to say this, but, when MLAs stand up in the House and call for action on an issue of deep concern, we get what feels like a pat on the head. I sat on a council for nearly two decades, and, when we asked officials and staff to deal with issues, on the whole they were actioned. Therefore, I have to ask this: who is in charge of this place? Is it you, Minister, or is it your officials? This is your opportunity to let the people of Ballykelly, Greysteel, Limavady, Eglinton, Londonderry and everywhere in between know that you are listening to their concerns, their pleas and their frustration. I really hope that lessons are learned from the project. It is the template of all templates on how not to do roadworks on incredibly busy stretches of the road network. I will end by saying that I am not someone who plays a lot of low politics in this place, and I am sure that you will recognise that, Minister. However, your party often tries to tell the House that the economy of the north-west is vital and that your party is driving the big changes in the Assembly, but I am afraid that the only thing being driven here is road users being driven round the bend.

512 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:22 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification