The current A5 is a "grim reaper" waiting to claim more lives, the public inquiry into the proposed major road upgrade has heard.
The resumed inquiry into the A5 Western Transport Corridor got underway in Omagh on Monday, with the hearings at Strule Arts Centre described as an "important opportunity" for locals to have their voices heard on the long-delayed project.
Plans to create 53 miles of dual carriageway between Aughancloy in Co Tyrone and Derry's Newbuildings were first announced in 2007, but have been hit with delays including legal challenges, while estimated costs have soared to £1.6 billion.
At Monday's hearing, a statement from a campaign group urging progress on the A5 upgrade warned that further delays "will only provide more opportunity for the most dangerous road imaginable” to leave more families facing grief.
The resumed inquiry begins as deaths on the A5 have risen to 47 since the upgrade was initially proposed.
The most recent tragedy last month saw three members of the same Strabane family killed in a crash between Ballygawley and Aughnacloy.
Brother and sister Dan McKane and Christine Duffy died alongside their aunt, Julia McSorley when their vehicle collided with a lorry.
The A5: Enough is Enough group was founded by Tyrone GAA after four young players died on the A5 in less than a year.
In their statement to the inquiry through lawyer Plunket Nugent, the group outlined its aims, including getting the upgrade underway "as soon as possible" and for "immediate mitigating road improvements that might start saving lives now".
The group said it plans to present the inquiry with more than 10,000 signatures it has gathered in support of the upgrade.
Their statement said Tyrone residents and visitors deserve “the long overdue benefit of fit-for-purpose 21st century infrastructure".
"The A5 in its current construct is a grim reaper, time its only constraint," the group said.
"Further delay will only provide more opportunity for the most dangerous road imaginable to devastate other families and communities. It has not, does not and will not discriminate. Given time it will undoubtedly continue to take the lives of people from all backgrounds regardless of class, colour, gender, creed or none."
Those opposing the A5 proposals include the Alternative A5 Alliance campaign group, which includes farmers and other landowners who object to the compulsory purchase of land to build the new road.
The group, which has also warned of the environmental impact of the upgrade, has said it backs safety improvements on the existing A5.
The inquiry will this week consider the impact of the proposed upgrade on farmers and local businesses, and following a one-week break will resume on May 30 when issues including funding will be examined.
The Irish Government has offered £75 million towards the project, following an initial pledge of £400m, as the road lies on the main route from Co Donegal to Dublin.
There have been calls by northern politicians for Dublin to increase funding towards the A5 through its estimated budget surplus of €65bn over the next four years.
West Tyrone MP, Sinn Féin's Órfhlaith Begley, said the public inquiry was an "important opportunity" for people to be heard.
“This project has been held up for too long by legal challenges and public inquiries," she said.
"Once these challenges are overcome, it must proceed immediately with no more delays.
“I would urge local businesses and residents to attend the inquiry and make their views known in support of the A5 transformation.”
