Cookstown suffers from traffic congestion because the main A29 route through the town centre is also the main commercial street. New developments are increasing pressure on this route and the need for an alternative route to service these areas is growing. This plan would see a new single-carriageway bypass constructed to the east of the town centre. The route as proposed in the Sub-Regional Transport Plan is shown in the map below (a screenshot from Google Earth):

Route

Beginning on the A29 Moneymore Road north of the town, the route follows the existing 600 metre "East Circular Road", constructed in the mid 2000s by a private developer. From here the route crosses the Coagh Road and terminates on the existing roundabout at the junction of Dungannon Road and Tullywiggan Road south of the town. The route shown on the map above was the one publicised in 2006. However, note that in this sort of project the route often changes as the scheme is progressed and consultations and site surveys take place.

Progress

7 Mar 2008: As of now, only the short 600 metre section of the road at its northern end has been completed. Consultants were appointed in June 2007 to progress a design, but according to this written answer, such roads can typically take "at least six years to progress". This should not be taken as a definite timescale, but rather a general indication that construction is not imminent. Private developers may, of course, progress parts of the scheme earlier than this.