As part of work to build a new local hospital in Omagh, it was deemed necessary to improve road access since the entrance would be on the B158 Donaghanie Road, which is not easily accessible from the rest of the town. There was an existing link road that went through the grounds of the former Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, which connected Donaghanie Road to Creveneagh Road, and hence to the main A5. This road would have been very appealing to users of the new hospital, but this road was very narrow and sub-standard, in places not wide enough for two vehicles to pass. The plan was thus to provide a better road to replace it. As the Western Trust said shortly before opening: "The trust would then wish to discourage the use of the internal trust roads for public use for traffic transiting the Donaghanie Road and Crevenagh Roads, as the new road link will ensure less congestion on the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital site and therefore make it safer for hospital patients, visitors and staff". The new road subsumes the first few hundred metres of this older link road, but thereafter follows a new route.

The map below shows the route of the new road (the blue pin shows the hospital site):

This image shows a closeup of the proposed hospital site, with the easten end of the link road at the bottom and Donaghanie Road on the right.

Image taken from "Omagh Enhanced Local Hospital, Enviromental Statement" accessible here.

The road began at its western end at a roundabout on Crevenagh Road which was built circa 2008 as part of the construction of Crevenagh Integrated College. It terminates at its eastern end at a priority T-junction on the B158 Donaghanie Road. The new road required a significant bridge over the Camowen river - it is 81 metres in length to span not only the watercourse itself but the floodplain on either side. The bridge is built with three spans: two approach spans with beams of 27.15 metres and one central span with beams of 26.75 metres. You can see images of the bridge under construction here and further details and images here (links live as of Mar 2014).

There is an old, disused stone railway bridge adjacent to the new bridge. This previously inaccessible structure can now be seen very conveniently from the new bridge, and it is well worth a visit for this reason alone.

Photos

This picture of the completed road was taken by Gordon Dunn 29 April 2014. It is part of a set of pictures visible here. The field straight ahead is the site of the future hospital, while its future entrance can be seen at the bottom right.


This picture of the completed bridge was taken by Gordon Dunn 29 April 2014. It is part of a set of pictures visible here.


This picture of the bridge under construction was taken by Gordon Dunn 22 Sep 2013. It is part of a set of pictures visible here.


The view south west along the new Omagh Hospital Link Road as seen from Donaghanie Road on 29 September 2013. At this stage the road was around four months from completion, and not yet opened.
© Copyright Kenneth Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.