Kimmins orders officials to get on with A5 upgrade after court clears way for £1.7bn Northern Ireland scheme

From the Newshound archive · first published 7 October 2026.

Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal has reversed the High Court decision that had halted the £1.7bn A5 road upgrade, freeing the way for the country's largest ever road project to move forward. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who was in court for the ruling, wasted no time in directing officials to begin work, while families of those who lost their lives on the road welcomed the outcome.

Fifty-seven people have died on the 58-mile stretch since 2006, making the upgrade a long-running safety emergency.

The High Court had blocked the scheme in 2025, ruling it failed to meet climate change targets after landowners and farmers mounted a legal challenge.

The Irish Government's €600m commitment to the project remains in place, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcoming the ruling.