A campaign group has been set up with the support of Tyrone GAA calling for the upgrade of the delayed A5 road project to succeed.
Eight people have been killed as a result of road crashes on the A5 since last Christmas, with a much delayed major upgrade currently the subject of a third public inquiry.
A launch event for the ‘A5 Enough is Enough’ campaign will take place in the Tyrone GAA centre in Garvaghey on Monday 23 January.
READ MORE: 70 people tragically killed on notorious A5 road since 1998
The group highlighted the death of talented Killyclogher player John Rafferty as one of several GAA members who had lost their lives on the A5.
“The ‘A5 Enough is Enough’ group was formed in the aftermath of the untimely passing of many victims of the A5 including John Rafferty from Killyclogher,” the group said.
“John was the 8th victim of a road traffic accident on the A5 since Christmas 2021.
“This is an important event. Many of us are regular users of this dangerous road and we are keen to demonstrate that there is a positive body of support for the commencement and completion of the new A5 as soon as possible.”
70 people have tragically died on the A5 road since 1998, with several delays to the upgrade having come about as a result of legal challenges to the Department for Infrastructure's plans.
A total of £80million has already been spent on the project without any construction having started, while total estimated costs have ballooned to more than £1.6billion.
The A5 Enough is Enough group says it has four aims, including 'supporting actions required to bring out an end to a process that is now fifteen and a half years long'.
It also pledges to 'positively promote' the need to begin the work on the road, seeking immediate road improvements in the short term and sharing road safety messages about the danger of driving on the road.
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