Major roadworks cause for concern in Tandragee

WHILE welcoming a major roadworks scheme for the Tandragee area a local councillor has said he had been contacted by a number of local businesses concerned over potential impact.

Alderman Paul Berry has warmly welcomed a major £490,000 road improvement scheme on the A27 Auglish Road, linking Tandragee and Poyntzpass, following an intensive two-year lobbying campaign to address serious safety hazards on the busy thoroughfare.

The extensive structural investment, officially announced by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, will introduce essential resurfacing, widespread patching, enhanced drainage systems, and vital verge stabilization along the commuter corridor.

Speaking on the announcement, Alderman Paul Berry said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Department for Infrastructure has listened to our persistent calls and committed £490,000 to this crucial stretch of the A27. For the past two years, I have lobbied tirelessly for physical interventions on this heavily- trafficked route.

“Local motorists use this road daily, and the degradation has posed growing safety risks. I am particularly pleased to see that this extensive scheme specifically targets Rutherford’s Corner, the Markethill Road section, and the roundabout at the bottom of Tandragee. These are notorious hot spots that required urgent action, and these works will go a long way in restoring confidence for everyday commuters and commercial drivers alike.”

The major engineering project is currently underway and is projected to reach completion by Friday, 4 December 2026. To accommodate the scale of the repairs while protecting on-site crews, the Department has structured traffic management into two distinct daytime phases:

Phase 1 (Monday, 9 November – Friday, 13 November): Daily lane closures managed by temporary traffic signals between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm.

Phase 2 (Monday, 16 November – Friday, 4 December): Full weekday road closures in effect from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

During the full weekday closures, a designated diversion route will guide motorists via the A27 Shepherds Way, A28 Armagh Road, and the B3 Tandragee Road at Markethill (and vice versa).

Recognising the challenges the full daytime closures present, Alderman Berry has already been approached by commercial owners along the stretch.

Alderman Berry added: “While these works are a massive win for our long-term infrastructure, a scheme of this magnitude will inevitably cause disruption. I have already been contacted by local businesses on the route who are deeply concerned about the immediate impact on their trading, footfall, and deliveries.

“I want to reassure them that I am actively listening. I will be liaising directly with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) officials to explore every viable option to keep this disruption to an absolute minimum and ensure local access is maintained as smoothly as possible.

“I urge all commuters, school transport providers, and delivery drivers to review the diversion routes and factor extra travel time into their journeys over the next few weeks. The short-term inconvenience will be challenging, but it will ultimately result in a safer, smoother, and completely revitalized A27.”

Announcing the works Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said it will include approximately 500 metres of full width resurfacing in the vicinity of the Monclone Road junction as well as large scale patching, drainage improvements and verge stability works at various locations on the route between Tandragee and Poyntzpass.

Works will be completed by Friday 4 December 2026, subject to favourable weather conditions, she added.

Minister Kimmins said: “This investment in these essential maintenance resurfacing works will deliver significant benefits for residents and road users and demonstrates my commitment to 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.”

To facilitate the safe delivery of the scheme it will be necessary to implement daytime lane closures under traffic signal control, weekdays, between 9.30am and 4.30pm from Monday 9 November to Friday 13 November. This will be followed by daytime road closures Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4.30pm from Monday 16 November to Friday 4 December. Traffic will be diverted via A27 Shepherds Way, A28 Armagh Road, B3 Tandragree Road at Markethill and vice versa.

The Department has programmed these essential works and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience; however, road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions.