26-05-2025
Pro-A5 carriageway campaigners urge construction to commence after ‘another family devastated by this road'
Bernadette 'Bernie' Cranley (82) died after the crash on the Mellon Road between Omagh and Newtownstewart on Saturday.
The Co Donegal woman's silver Toyota Vitz collided with a blue Suzuki Vitara at around 12.30pm leaving the other female driver, who was in her 70s, seriously injured.
The A5 Enough Is Enough group extended condolences to the grieving family of Ms Cranley and pointed to the latest tragedy as a reminder of why the upgrade is needed.
'Another family devastated by this road,' it posted on social media.
'Our thoughts and prayers are also with the lady who was seriously injured in the same accident.
'We are very cognisant of the fact that we are currently waiting on the judge's decision on the latest objection – what more evidence does he need that this objection should be thrown out? How many more people have to die?'
Described as one the most dangerous roads on the island, there have been over 50 fatalities on the A5 since 2006.
Plans were unveiled by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in 2007 to upgrade the route which will require the compulsory purchase of land to construct the new road – the scheme has been delayed by opposition, legal challenges and funding issues.
Last October Mr O'Dowd confirmed his intention to proceed with plans to improve the main passage between Londonderry and Aughnacloy as part of a cross-border project to better connect Dublin to the north west region.
The Alternative A5 Alliance oppose the project on the basis that its members, as landowners overlapping the proposed roadway, stand to lose as a result of it.
More than 3,000 acres sprawled over 300 farms will be impacted by the project.
The A5 Alliance delayed its approval in both 2013 and 2018 citing that DfI and its precursor group unlawfully failed to impose a time limit for carrying the scheme.
The group has submitted a fresh judicial review against its construction claiming Stormont's targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions have been violated.
In March the High Court heard how residents forced to sell their homes as part of the scheme had suffered a violation of their human rights.
However, speaking at a press conference for the approval of the project back in October, Mr O'Dowd insisted it will provide the west with 'critically important infrastructure.'
"Now we have achieved that, it's about moving towards construction and giving the people of the west, and indeed all of us, proper infrastructure where we can go about and do our daily business and benefit the economy,' the Sinn Fein MLA said.
"The project will provide for critically important infrastructure, create jobs, benefit the economy and improve journey times.
"We do recognise there are serious safety concerns on that road ahead of the upgrade.'
