Northern Ireland Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has given green light for the £40m A31 Magherafelt bypass scheme.

While the funding for the project was approved in July 2013, Minister Kennedy now annnounced the making of the necessary Vesting Order and commencement of procurement for the scheme.

Mr Kennedy said: "The A31 provides the key transport route between Cookstown, Moneymore, Magherafelt and Belfast.

"The provision of a new bypass will generate a number of benefits for road users helping to reduce congestion, improve journey times and road safety in Magherafelt."

"This announcement of the A31 scheme proceeding will be welcome news for the construction sector."

Construction on the project will result in about 6km of new carriageway between the A31 Moneymore Road at Coolshinney Road, south west of Magherafelt, and the A6 at Castledawson Roundabout, north east of Magherafelt.

The scheme will also include several roundabouts, under bridges and dual acceleration lanes.

Subject to successful procurement, the A31 Magherafelt bypass scheme is scheduled to begin later this year; construction is expected to take 20 months to complete.

"In the current economic climate, this announcement of the A31 scheme proceeding will be welcome news for the construction sector," Kennedy added.

"The scheme should lead to an increase in demand for local construction material, as well as a boost to commercial trade and the construction industry in the surrounding area."