New figures have shown that 70 people have lost their lives on the A5 road since 1998.
The dangerous road has been the subject of a much-delayed development which would see the whole road from Newbuildings to Aughnacloy upgraded to dual carriageway.
A total of £80million has already been spent on the project without any construction having started, while total estimated costs have ballooned to more than £1.6billion.
READ MORE: Costs of delayed A5 road scheme spiral to £1.6billion
The figures, obtained from the PSNI by Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone Declan McAleer via an FoI request, show that 2022 has been the deadliest year so far on the A5.
Six people have died as a result of road traffic collisions this year so far, according to the figures. That is more than any other year since 1998.
McAleer also asked for figures on the number of fatalities on the A4 road during the same time, including since the dual carriageway’s 2010 opening between Dungannon and Ballygawley.
A total of 60 people have lost their lives on the A4 since 1998, with only two of those coming on the dual carriageway section since it was opened 12 years ago.
The Sinn Féin MLA says the figures are evidence of the increased safety a dual carriageway would bring to the A5.
“The A4 dual carriageway opened on 17th November 2010 and during the past 12 years 2 people have sadly lost their lives on this road. However, during the same period, 34 people have been killed on the A5,” McAleer said.
“All deaths are devastating for families and loved ones, unquestionably, there are dozens of people who are thankfully still alive due to the construction of the A4 dual carriageway.
“The difference in death rates between the A4 dual carriageway and the A5 road is compelling evidence that dual carriageways are safer and presses home the urgent need to proceed with the A5 dual carriageway.
“I intend to forward this information to the public inquiry team and I hope that the information may provoke a re-think in the people who continue to block construction of the new road”.
The A5 Western Transport Corridor project has been hit with a series of delays due to a number of legal challenges to the Department for Infrastructure’s plan, which was first proposed in 2007.
A third public inquiry into the project is expected to resume next year, but doubts have been expressed about the affordability of the scheme due to rising costs.
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