In the Greater Belfast area traffic busy on the following routes:-

• leaving the M2 at Nelson Street

A safety scheme to replace and upgrade the parapets of the M1 River Lagan Moira Bridge will commence on Sunday 23 March 2025.

Due to the nature of the work it will be necessary to implement a series of road, lane and hard shoulder closures which have been scheduled in two phases.

The first phase of work will be from 23 March 2025 until 21 April 2025, on the west-bound carriageway. 

The second phase will be from 18 May 2025 until 23 June 2025 on the east-bound carriageway.

Phase 1 of the works will be completed under the following traffic management arrangements:

• A full overnight closure will be in place from 11pm on Sunday 23 March 2025 until 6am on Monday 24 March 2025 on the west-bound carriageway of the M1, between Saintfield Roundabout and the Moira Road Roundabout. 

• From Monday 24 March until Friday 18 April 2025 lane 1 of the west-bound carriageway of the M1 will be closed in the vicinity of the works each night during the hours of 9pm and 6am (Monday to Friday only) to allow the old parapet to be removed and a new parapet to be installed safely.

• A full overnight closure will be required on the west-bound carriageway of the M1, from 11pm on Sunday 20 April 2025 until 6am on Monday 21 April 2025 to allow the temporary barrier to be removed.

Phase 2 of the works will commence on Sunday 18 May and will be completed under the following traffic management arrangements:

• A full overnight closure will be in place from 11pm on Sunday 18 May 2025 until 6am on Monday 19 May 2025 on the east-bound M1 carriageway, to allow a temporary barrier to be installed. 

• From Monday 18 May until Friday 20 June 2025 lane 1 of the east-bound carriageway of the M1 will be closed in the vicinity of the works each night during the hours of 9pm and 6am (Monday to Friday only) to allow the old parapet to be removed and a new parapet to be installed safely.

• A full overnight closure will be required on the east-bound carriageway of the M1 from 11pm on Sunday 22 June 2025 until 6am on Monday 23 June 2025 to allow the temporary barrier to be removed. 

During all the bridge works the hard shoulder on either the east-bound or west-bound carriageways will be closed in the vicinity of the works, a temporary 50mph speed limit will be in operation and a recovery vehicle will be available on the M1.

The Department has carefully planned these road works to take place overnight and associated traffic management arrangements to minimise the inconvenience to the public. During periods of closure please follow the alternative route which will be clearly signed on the approaches to each full closure.

Completion of the work by 23 June 2025 is dependent on favourable weather conditions. 

Upper Newtownards Road / Knock Road / Hawthornden Way junction – Works by Phoenix Gas

Phoenix Gas will be carrying out works at the Upper Newtownards Road /Knock Road / Hawthornden Way junction over three weekends,

• 8/9 March
• 22/23 March
• 5/6 April 25

Lane closures will be in place on all three weekends.

Belfast - a pedestrian and cycle improvement scheme in Lagmore Avenue, Belfast, part of the Belfast Cycling Network Delivery Plan, that includes segregated cycle tracks along Lagmore Avenue between the junction of Stewartstown Road and Glenfearna Park will commence on 10 March 2025.

To help ensure the safety of road users and our road workers, it will be necessary to operate daily lane closures along Lagmore Avenue between 9.30am and 4.00pm (Mon- Fri) from 10 March until late September 2025.

Once completed this scheme will deliver improved active travel connections to local schools and amenities in the Lagmore area.

Safety will also be improved with the provision of two toucan crossings at existing crossing points and the introduction of raised table humps at all minor road accesses to further assist pedestrian and wheeled users.”

The Department has programmed the work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience, however road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions. 

Newtownabbey - A2 Shore Road – NI Water Stormwater Sewer Installation Monday 24 March – Friday 9 May 2025.

NI Water will commence the installation of a new stormwater sewer on a section of Shore Road, Abbeyville Street and Abbeyville Place, Whiteabbey.

The work will begin on Monday 24 March and finish Friday 9 of May.

The lane closure will be in place between 09:30 and 16:30 with two-way traffic maintained throughout.

Drivers are advised to allow extra times for their journeys while the lane closure is in place.

Vehicular access will be maintained for residents and businesses throughout the duration of the lane closures, although parking may be temporarily affected within the working area.

Belfast - Grand Central Station - NIE / Translink Works

Essential underground cable works will be carried out in the Durham Street and Grosvenor Road area of Belfast from Tuesday, 18 March to Saturday, 19 April (inclusive). 

To facilitate the works, Grosvenor Road will be restricted to two lanes of traffic – one lane city bound, and one lane country bound for the duration of the work. Pedestrian access will be accommodated at all times with some restrictions in place and clear signage in place.

On Sunday 23 and Sunday 30 March there will be a one lane road closure citybound from 6am – 3pm, full diversions will be in place.

Then on Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 April the Grosvenor Road will be fully closed in both directions from Durham Street exit citybound between 6am-3pm.

Anyone travelling in this area should leave plenty of time for their journeys and expect some lane restrictions. There will also be traffic diversions in place due to road closures on Sundays between 6am-3pm

To help reduce city centre congestion, everyone is encouraged to use public transport where they can including Park & Ride and active travel options like walking or cycling whenever possible, especially in the longer brighter spring days.

NIE Networks, along with contracting partners, will be working continuously throughout this period including weekends and extending the length of working days in order to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.  

Road users are advised of resurfacing works commencing on Tuesday 18th March.

Works are within Downpatrick town centre, with overnight closures in operation Mon – Fri 7pm – 6am each night.

An alternative route will be signed with traffic being diverted via the following route:

Diversion 1: A0025 Market Street, A0025 Ballydugan Road, A0025 Downpatrick Road, A0024 Newcastle Road, A0024 Drumaness Road, B0002 Downpatrick Road, B0002 Annacloy Road, A0007 Belfast Road, A0025 New Bridge Street, A0025 Church Street.

Diversion 2: U6800 St. Patrick's Avenue, U6002 Stream Street, U6002 Irish Street, U6009 John Street, U6009 Fountain Street, C0281 Scotch Street, U6007 Meadowlands.

Diversion 3 for Closure of English Street - Mount Crescent, Bridge Street, Church Street

Temporary Road Closure to part of A76 William Street, Lurgan. (expected to continue into next week)

This is to facilitate safety measures due to a building which is in danger of collapse.

The following diversion is in place:-

• C706 Kiln Road, B2 Francis Street, A3 Edward Street and A76 Church Place.

Please ensure to allow additional time for your journey.

Castlereagh - Road improvement scheme for C0302 Purdysburn Road

A carriageway resurfacing scheme on C0302 Purdysburn Road, Castlereagh will commence on Tuesday 18 March 2025. 

The resurfacing scheme will extend from the junction of Milltown Road to Beechill Road roundabout for approximately 1550m.

To facilitate the scheme, it will be necessary to implement a nightly road closure ( Mon to Fri only) on Purdysburn Road, between Milltown Road and Beechill Road roundabout, during the hours of 8pm and 6am from Tuesday 18 March 2025 until Friday 4 April 2025.

Additionally, to facilitate final surfacing associated with the scheme, separate closures will be operational between 7am and 7pm on the weekends of 22 - 23 March and also 29 – 30 March 2025.

• During periods of closure, a diversion will operate via A0055 Milltown Road, A0055 Belvoir Road, A0024 Saintfield Road, C0302 Purdysburn Road, and vice versa.

The Department has programmed the work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience, however, while steps have been taken to accommodate local access, road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions. 

Subject to favourable weather conditions, the works will be substantially complete by Friday 4 April 2025, however, the Department will keep the public informed of any change. 

Belfast - Phoenix Energy will be carrying out planned works to their network on the A20 Upper Newtownards Road from Carrowreagh Road (Dundonald) to Hawthornden Way (East Belfast) commencing on Monday 26th August 2024 through to April 2025.

The final phase of works along the Upper Newtownards Road will commence on Monday 6th January at the Stoney Road junction, moving citybound to Hawthornden Way and run for approximately 16 weeks, ending April 2025. Two central lanes will be closed as work takes place, allowing traffic to flow via one lane in a citybound and country bound direction.

For the latest updates on this project please visit https://phoenixenergyni.com/uppernewtownardsroad

The A2 Sydenham Bypass scheme is programmed to be complete by the end of March 2025, subject to favourable weather conditions. 

This work will be completed using a series of overnight closures and limited lanes closures at the weekend.

Road improvement scheme for C0305 Hillsborough Old Road, Lisburn.

A £375,000 carriageway and footway resurfacing scheme on C0305 Hillsborough Old Road, Lisburn commenced on Monday 27 January 2025. 

The resurfacing scheme will extend from the junction of Ravernet Road to Altona Road.

To facilitate the scheme, it will be necessary to implement a daily road closure ( Mon to Fri only) on the Hillsborough Old Road, between Ravernet Road and Altona Road, during the hours of 9.30am and 4.30pm from Monday 27 January 2025 until Friday 16 May 2025. Additionally, to facilitate the provision of a pedestrian walkway associated with the resurfacing, a separate lane closure will be operational overnight during the hours of 16:30pm and 09:30am from Monday 27 January 2025 until Friday 04 April 2025.

During periods of closure, a diversion will operate via

• C0305 Ravernet Road, A0001 Hillsborough Road, A0001 Laganbank Road, A0001 Queens Road, A0049 Sloan Street, C0297 Young Street, C0305 Hillsborough Road and vice versa.

The Department has programmed the work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience, however, while steps have been taken to accommodate local access, road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions. 

Subject to favourable weather conditions, the works will be substantially complete by Sunday 16 May 2025, however, the Department will keep the public informed of any change.

A £446,000 carriageway and footway resurfacing scheme on the New Lodge Road, Belfast commenced on Monday 13 January 2025.

The resurfacing scheme, which extends from the junction of Antrim Road to North Queen Street, will deliver significant benefits for residents and road users.

To facilitate the scheme, it will be necessary to implement these works in two separate phases.

Phase 2 – Lepper Street to North Queen Street will require weekday road closures for the duration of the works from Monday 17 February 2025 until Friday 16 April 2025, between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm. 

Subject to favourable weather conditions, the works will be substantially complete by Friday 16 April 2025, however the Department will keep the public informed of any change. 

A major £2.4m road safety improvement scheme will commence at The Cutts junction Dunmurry on Monday 14 October.

The scheme will provide significant safety improvements for right turning vehicles and pedestrians by widening of the McKinstry Road to accommodate a revised traffic signal layout at the busy McKinstry Road /Derriaghy Road /The Cutts junction.

In order to complete the work safely it will be necessary to implement lane closures throughout the duration of the scheme.

The number of running lanes will also be reduced to one lane of in each direction as the work progresses, particularly in the Belfast bound direction over the initial weeks of the scheme to allow for the carriageway widening.

Derriaghy Road will be closed from mid November for 20 weeks to allow for carriageway widening, slip road construction and culvert works.

Delays to traffic in the vicinity of the works are inevitable and where possible road users should consider an alternative route while the Department completes the works. 

The works are progressing on programme and on the 6th of January they enter Phase 3 and 4 which involves the widening of the citybound side in order to create a permanent layout of two running lanes in each direction and right turn lanes into Knockbracken Health Care Centre and Knockbraken Road. This also includes construction of a retaining wall, utility diversions, new footpath, and enhanced pedestrian facilities. During this period citybound traffic on the Saintfield Road will be reduced to one lane.

In order to do this safety, it will be necessary to close Knockbraken Road for a 5-month period until the final layout is in operation. We appreciate this in a considerable inconvenience to residents but understand the reasons.

A 30mph speed limit remains on the main Saintfield in the vicinity of the works.

Further to below. All cones have now been lifted on the A24 Saintfield Road and the Knockbracken Road has been fully reopened. This will now be in place for the duration of the Christmas and New Year period.

A developer led junction improvement scheme on the A24 Saintfield Road and Knockbracken Road junction will begin on Tuesday 6th August 2024. 

The scheme is expected to last 60 weeks and involves widening the northbound and southbound A24 Saintfield Road carriageway. This will allow for improvements to the signal-controlled junction at the Old Saintfield Road, as well as the signal-controlled junction at the Knockbracken Road.

Fermanagh - Road users are advised that due to a carriageway subsidence, the Carrowkeel Road between Lisbellaw and Tempo, is currently closed to traffic between the Tattymacall Road and the Lough Eyes Road junctions. Early indications are the road will be closed for some time. Please seek an alternative route for your journey.

Durham Street Closure for essential Public Realm works

To facilitate essential public realm works around the new Belfast Grand Central Station, Durham Street (from Grosvenor Road to Hope Street) closed on Saturday 12 October 2024 for a period of up to 12 months.

Translink is encouraging people to consider using public transport to access the city during this next phase of works as road users can expect some delays.

Clearly signed diversionary routes will be in place for motorists that need to travel to the city and everyone is asked to follow these or to find an alternative route or way to travel. 

B15 Glenshesk Road, Ballycastle (between Glenbank Road and Greenan Road) remains closed due to a landslide / partial road collapse on Wednesday 27 March 24.

The road may be closed for the foreseeable future given the severity of the collapse.

Road users should avoid the area and seek an alternative route for their journey.