Long-awaited upgrades to the A5 road are expected to be given the official go-ahead in Stormont this afternoon.
Plans for upgrading the dangerous stretch of road from Derry to Aughnacloy have been in place for over a decade and a half, but funding and at times political willpower have both been hard to come by.
The A5 is a vital carriageway into the North West, being a large part of the main route from Dublin to Donegal.
Numerous road fatalities have taken place on the route over the years, with 54 fatalities on it since the first upgrade proposals were made all the way back in 2007.
As part of the upgrades, which will be part-funded by the Irish Government to the tune of €600 million, upgrade works will also be carried out along parts of the N2 road in County Monaghan.
