Traffic News
Belfast - Road users are advised that Traffic is extremely busy in the following areas due to the Closure of the M3:
- Clifton St.
- Nelson St / Dunbar Link.
- Great Partick St heading to Donegall Quay.
Please allow extra time for your journey.
No other reports of any incidents or delays currently
THIS WEEKEND - Fri Evening to Monday Morning
Belfast - Essential Maintenance Works to commence on M3 Lagan Bridge
A £400k major maintenance scheme on the M3 Lagan Bridge is to recommence on Friday 1 August 2025.
Last summer 10 bridge bearings were replaced and a further 8 are now scheduled to be replaced over two weekends in August from Friday 1 August to Mon 4 August and 15 August to 18 August.
The first weekend road closure will be on the eastbound carriageway from 9pm on Friday 1 August 2025 until 6am on Monday 4 August 2025.
- During this time the M3 will be closed between M2 Foreshore to Dee Street and there will be no access to the bridge from the M2, with all traffic leaving at Nelson Street Off Slip. There will also be no access to M3 bridge from Nelson Street on-slip during this period.
- The Diversion Route is Nelson Street, A2 Great Patrick Street, A2 Dunbar Link, Waring Street, Donegall Quay, Middlepath Street, A2 Eastbound Middlepath Street onslip.
- Allow extra time if heading to Belfast City Airport
The second weekend road closure will be on the westbound carriageway from 9pm on Friday 15 August 2025 until 6am on Monday 18 August 2025.
- During this time the M3 will be closed from Bridge End to M2 Foreshore and there will be no access to the bridge from the A2 Sydenham Bypass with all traffic leaving at Bridge End Flyover. There will also be no access to M3 bridge from Middlepath Street on-slip during this period.
While the Department has carefully planned these road works and associated traffic management arrangements in order to minimise inconvenience to the public, delays are inevitable and road users are advised to allow extra time for their journey particularly if travelling to the ports or airports.
Diversionary routes will be clearly signed on the approaches to the closure and road users are requested to abide by the temporary traffic management arrangements which are in place for the safety of the public and road workers.
McKINSTRY ROAD DERRIAGHY IMPROVEMENT SCHEME – SURFACING WORKS Friday 1 Aug 19.00pm – Sunday 3 Aug 19,00pm
- Mckinstry Road, Derriaghy will be closed Friday 1 Aug 19.00pm – Sunday 3 Aug 19.00pm between Wilmar Road and the McKinstry Road roundabout at Stewartstown Road for surfacing works
A major £2.4m road safety improvement scheme commenced 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 be reduced to one lane of in each direction as the work progresses
It is anticipated that the scheme will be completed by the end of August 2025.
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.
Emergency Road Closure required to the A2 Killowen Road Kilkeel (600 metres from its junction with Benagh Road).
The closure will operate from 7pm on Wednesday 30 July 2025 for emergency repairs to be carried out to Cassy Water Bridge.
At this stage we are unable to confirm the duration of the closure but will provide further updates as soon as possible.
A Diversion will be in place, please expect delays.
Alternative Route Via the following:
For Newry bound traffic:
- A2 Killowen Road / Newry Road / Newry Street Kilkeel, A2 The Square / Newcastle Road / Annalong Road / Glassdrumman Road / Ballagh Road / Kilkeel Road Newcastle, B180 Bryansford Road, Shimna Road , A50 Castlewellan Road / Newcastle Road to Castlewellan, A25 Dublin Road, B8 Hilltown Road / Castlewellan Road / Main Street to Hilltown, B25 Rostrevor Road / Kilbroney Road / Church Street to Rostrevor, A2 Shore Road / Killowen Road.
For Kilkeel bound traffic:
- A2 Killowen Road / Shore Road Rostrevor, B25 Church Street / Kilbroney Road / Rostrevor Road Hilltown, B8 Main Street / Castlewellan Road / Hilltown Road, A25 Dublin Road Castlewellan, A50 Newcastle Road / Castlewellan Road Newcastle, A2 Dundrum Road / Railway Street / Main Street Newcastle / Central Promenade / South Promenade, A2 Ballagh Road / Glassdrumman Road / Annalong Road / Newcastle Road / The Square Kilkeel, A2 Newry Street / Newry Road and Killowen Road.
A22 Killinchy Rd Comber Resurfacing - Over Night Closures
There will be overnight road closures Commencing Mon 28th July – Sat 02nd Aug from 19:00 pm – 06:00Am
Also on Sunday 03rd Aug daytime 07:00 Am to 19:00Pm
An alternative route will be signed with traffic being diverted via:
Diversion 1: A0022 KILLINCHY ROAD, A0022 COMBER ROAD, A0022 KILLYLEAGH ROAD, A0022
CROSS STREET, A0022 CATHERINE STREET, A0022 DOWNPATRICK ROAD, A0022 OLD
BELFAST ROAD, A0025 NEW BRIDGE STREET, A0007 BELFAST ROAD, A0007 DOWNPATRICK
ROAD, A0007 DOWNPATRICK STREET, A0007 SAINTFIELD ROAD, A0007 CROSSGAR ROAD,
A0021 BALLYGOWAN ROAD, A0021 SAINTFIELD ROAD, A0021 COMBER ROAD, A0021 BRAE
SIDE, A0021 HIGH STREET, A0021 KILLINCHY STREET, A0021 NEWTOWNARDS ROAD
East Belfast - the Old Dundonald Road will be closed from the Roundabout at Dundonald Ice Bowl to Graton Park for resurfacing works.
This will be in place from 06:00 from Saturday 2 August to 06:00 Monday 4 August 2025
The anticipated delay will be 5 - 15 minutes
An alternative route will be signed with traffic being diverted via:
Diversion 1: C0265 Old Dundonald Road, A0022 Comber Road, A0020 Upper Newtownards Road, A0055 Knock Road, C0265 Kings Road.
M1 Eastbound On-slip at Ballynacor Interchange, Craigavon (Junction 11) will be closed continuously from 20:00 on Friday 25 July to 06:00 on Friday 08 August 2025, with traffic being diverted via M1 Westbound to Birches Roundabout (Junction 12) and then back up M1 Eastbound towards Lurgan/Belfast during mainly daytime hours (at times when M1 Eastbound Main Line is not fully closed).
M1 Eastbound Main Line between Ballynacor Interchange, Craigavon (Junction 11) and Lurgan Roundabout (Junction 10) will be reduced to a single lane continuously from 20:00 on Friday 25 July to 06:00 on Friday 08 August 2025 (at times when M1 Eastbound Main Line is not fully closed).
M1 Eastbound Main Line between Ballynacor Interchange, Craigavon (Junction 11) and Lurgan Roundabout (Junction 10) will be fully closed through the night each night from Friday 25 July to Friday 08 August 2025, with traffic being diverted via M12 Motorway, (A3) Kernan Loop, (A3) Northway, (A3) Central Way, (A3) Lake Road, (U1125) Eastway, (B2) Silverwood Road, (C706) Kiln Road, (A76) Lough Road, and Junction 10 Lurgan Roundabout. Closure hours will vary each night as per below:
M1 Eastbound Total Closure on Friday nights (25th July & 1st Aug) from 20:00 to 07:00.
M1 Eastbound Total Closure on Saturday nights (26th July & 2nd Aug) from 20:00 to 12:00 (Sunday midday).
M1 Eastbound Total Closure from Sunday nights to Thursday nights (27th – 31st July & 3rd – 7th Aug) from 20:00 to 06:00 each night.
Please note that M1 Westbound will not be closed at any time.
These closures are to facilitate essential M1 carriageway resurfacing work by Amey.
Please ensure to allow additional time for your journey.
NIE Networks will be undertaking major new customer connections in the Duncrue Street area of Belfast to support the development of a mass electric vehicle charging station and to increase electrical capacity for a redevelopment project in the area. In order to minimise disruption, NIE we have scheduled this work during the summer months
These essential works will begin on Saturday 28 June 2025 and last for a total period of approximately four months.
Traffic Management Details:
Saturday 28 June 2025 – 11 July 2025: The M2 Whitla Street off-slip (city-bound) will operate at reduced capacity, with one lane remaining open at all times under Traffic Management.
- From 21 July 2025 : Works will recommence on Duncrue Street (country bound), this is a road closure in both directions with local access only.
NIE would encourage anyone with any questions to make contact directly with NIE Networks via their Customer Contact Centre on 03457 643643.
A new traffic signals layout became operational on the 3 July 2025 on the A24 Saintfield Road / Knockbracken Road at the Health Care Centre.
Road users should approach with extra care until they become accustomed to the new signals and timings. Further remedial works such as high friction surfacing remain to be completed.
Pedestrian island work is currently ongoing to provide and enhance pedestrian movements and accessibility. During this period city bound traffic on the Saintfield Road will be reduced to one lane.
A 30 mph speed limit remains on the main Saintfield in the vicinity of the works.
We appreciate this may cause inconvenience and disruption but appreciate your patience during this time.
The scheme is expected to finish in late July 2025.
Co Londonderry - NI Water will commence essential sewer improvement work on Queens Quay, between Harbour Square Roundabout and Strand Road Roundabout in Derry.
NI Water can confirm that the planned work on Queens Quay in Derry/Londonderry will commence on Monday 28th July at 7pm, following a week’s postponement for the Foyle Cup.
Initially there will be a full closure of Queens Quay overnight (from 7pm Monday 28th July until 6am Tuesday 29th July), between Harbour Square Roundabout and Queens Quay Roundabout while our contractor GRAHAM installs the necessary traffic management to carry out the sewer relining works.
From 6am on Tuesday 29th July there will be a one-way closure northbound on Queens Quay for around 6 weeks, with traffic diverted along Strand Road during this time.
Meanwhile, traffic management on Madam’s Bank Road will be reinstated on Sunday 27th July to facilitate the recommencement of pipe laying there. For safety reasons, supporting traffic management will also be in place on Foyle Bridge and Culmore Road, however our contractor for that work, BSG, will work longer hours in a bid to get that supporting traffic management removed as quickly as possible.
NI Water and our project teams thank local businesses and the wider public for their patience and cooperation while we undertake this essential improvement work.
Co Armagh - Portadown - temporary Road Closure to parts of A4 Dungannon Road, A4 Moy Road Roundabout, A4 Charles Street, and A4 Corcrain Road.
from 100m North West of their junction with C162 Drumcree Road to their junction with B77 West Street, through the night from 19:00 to 06:00 each night, commencing on Monday 28 July 2025 until Saturday 23 August 2025 (Roads will be open during Saturday and Sunday nights).
Day time lane closures will also be in place on parts of the above-named roads from 09:30 to 16:30 daily, commencing on Monday 28 July 2025 until Friday 12 September 2025.
Local access and access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
This closure is to facilitate carriageway resurfacing work by DFI Roads.
Alternative diversion routes will be signed as follows:
- Diversion Route 1 - A4 Dungannon Road, A4 Birches Roundabout, M1 Motorway, M12 Ballynacor Interchange, M12 Motorway, A3 Kernan Loop, A3 Northway and A4 Corcrain Road.
- Diversion Route 2 - B28 Moy Road, B131 Teagy Road, B131 Derrycoose Road, B131 Blackisland Road, M1 Motorway, M12 Ballynacor Interchange, M12 Motorway, A3 Kernan Loop, A3 Northway and A4 Corcrain Road.
Traffic prohibited from using the M1 Motorway – Please find an alternative route.
Belfast Harbour Commissioners has commissioned contractor Gibson (Banbridge) Ltd to complete necessary emergency works to replace and upgrade the foul sewer network which is located in the Queen’s Quay/Sydenham Road area.
The final parts of the works will continue after 27 June 2025 with 2-way traffic flow to be accommodated on Queen’s Quay in July, and until planned completion in mid-August.
Variable Message Signage (VMS) is currently in place to advertise this planned road closure.
Upcoming lane / road closures as detailed below.
Lurgan Bound traffic. (Lane 2) temporary Lane Closure to part of A3 Lake Road, Craigavon - from 300m West of Roundabout 3 to 100m West of Roundabout 2, continuously from 07:00 on Monday 11 August 2025 until 06:00 on Saturday 16 August 2025.
Lurgan Bound traffic. Full Road Closure to part of A3 Lake Road, Craigavon - from Roundabout 3 to Roundabout 2, continuously from 06:00 on Saturday 16 August 2025 until 23:00 on Sunday 17 August 2025.
Portadown Bound traffic. Full Road Closure to part of A3 Lake Road, Craigavon - from Roundabout 2 to Roundabout 3, continuously from 07:00 on Thursday 14 August 2025 until 23:00 on Sunday 17 August 2025.
These closures are to facilitate the installation of Moylinn Footbridge by DFI Roads.
An alternative route will be signed with traffic being diverted via:
A3 Lake Road, U1387 Tullygally East Road, B2 Tullygally East Road, B2 Brownlow Road and C156 Drumgor Road.
Please ensure to allow additional time for your journey.
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.
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.