Luxembourg, 20/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 18 December, the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a GBP 121.1 million loan for the design, construction and maintenance of improvements to a 120 km section of the A1, A4 and A5 trunk roads in Northern Ireland. The works will be carried out under the terms of a 30-year Concession Agreement between Amey Lagan Roads Limited and the Department for Regional Development. All elements of this road improvement scheme form part of the strategic pan-European transport corridors, the so-called Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). The project will serve to reinforce communication links between Northern Ireland and neighbouring EU member states. The improvement scheme comprises five sections of trunk road along the A1, the main route between Belfast and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, and the A4/A5, providing access from Belfast to the south-west of Northern Ireland. The works will not only ensure capacity improvements on these routes, but will also reduce journey times, congestion and the potential for accidents along the way. (O.L.)