A number of roadworks around Northern Ireland are taking place or have returned this week following the Christmas break.
As many people get ready for their first full working week of the year, the Department for Infrastructure’s annual moratorium on non-essential roadworks will end on Monday, January 6.
The yearly pause covers all non-essential work by the Department, utilities, and developers on all arterial routes into Belfast and city centre streets. The moratorium began in November and lasted throughout the Christmas period.
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Throughout the last months of 2024, motorists and public transport users experienced persistent traffic issues in the city centre, which many believed were worsened by Sydenham Bypass works and works surrounding the new Grand Central Station.
NI major roadworks returning this week
Sydenham Bypass Resurfacing Works:
The Department for Infrastructure will resume essential £3.8m resurfacing works on the A2 Sydenham Bypass from Monday 6 January 2025.
To minimise disruption, works will continue during weeknights and weekends. The Belfast-bound carriageway will be closed between Tillysburn and the M3 as follows:
- Weeknights: 10:00 pm to 6:00 am, Monday to Thursday
- Four additional weekends: 10:00 pm Friday to 6:00 am Monday (with the first weekend closure scheduled from Friday 10 to Monday 13 January 2025).
All weekend closures dates will be weather dependent and the Department will keep the public informed once dates are confirmed.
Some weekend and overnight lane closures will also be required on the country bound lanes to ensure the safety of road workers and the travelling public while work is undertaken. Completion is expected by early March 2025, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Shore Road Sewer Relining:
The next phase of work in relation to sewer relining on North Belfast’s Shore Road will begin on Monday, January 6 adjacent to St Vincent Street/Seaview.
To carry out the work as safely as possible, city-bound lanes at Seaview will need to be closed. Two-way traffic (one lane in each direction) will be controlled around the working area via temporary traffic lights.
The traffic lights will be controlled during peak hours – morning and evening – to maximise traffic progression and will be in operation for approximately three weeks.
Purdysburn A24 Saintfield Road-Knockbracken Road:
The works are progressing on programme and on January 6, 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. A 30mph speed limit remains on the main Saintfield in the vicinity of the works.
A20 Upper Newtownards Road:
The final phase of Phoenix Energy works will start at the Stoney Road junction on Monday 6 January 2025, moving citybound to Hawthornden Way.
Two central lanes will be closed as work takes place, allowing traffic to flow via one lane in a citybound and country bound direction. The works are scheduled for approximately 16 weeks, ending April 2025.
Local diversions will be in place for side streets and all work will be carried out in small sections to minimise impact to commuters.
A2 Shore Road Strangford:
A resurfacing scheme on the A2 Shore Road Strangford is due commence Monday 6 January 2025 and runs to 14 March 25.
The resurfacing scheme will involve the asphalt resurfacing of a 1.3 kilometre stretch of the Shore Road between Strangford Village and Kilclief. The scheme will start from the end of a 2023 resurfacing scheme, 1 kilometre south of Strangford village and extend for 1.3 kilometre in the Kilclief/Ardglass direction. There will be a daily road closure in place times 8am – 5pm
An alternative route will be signed with traffic being diverted via the following route:
- A0025 Castleward Road, A0025 Downpatrick Road, A0002 Shore Road, C0283 Churchtown Road, C0366 Lismore Road, C0283 Crew Road, A0002 Ardglass Road.
Delays are possible, road users are asked to allow extra time for journeys in this area.
Shore Road, Newtownabbey:
A lane closure is to operate from Whiteabbey Methodist Church to Dillons Avenue. Commencing at 8am on January 6, the closure is to operate continuously until 6pm on January 19. Traffic control is to operate during the closure, which is to facilitate gas main testing, and delays of up to five minutes are expected.
Co Tyrone A28 Caledon Road:
There will be a Road closure from A28 Caledon Main Street to Finglush Road. This will be operational daily from rom 9am – 16:30 from Mon 06 Jan 2025 to Fri 17 Jan 2025. Reason for closure: Carriageway Strengthening and Resurfacing
The anticipated delay will be 5 – 15 minutes – An alternative route will be signed with traffic being diverted via:
Diversion 1: A0028 Killylea Road, A0003 Friary Road, A0003 Barrack Street, A0003 The Mall West, A0029 Lonsdale Road, A0029 Railway Street, A0029 Moy Road, A0029 Armagh Road, A0029 Main Street, A0029 The Square, A0029 Dungannon Road, A0029 Drumgrannon Road, M0001 M1, A0004 Woodlough Road, A0004 A4,A0005 Tullyvar Road, A0005 Moore Street
Diversion 2: B0045 Main Street, B0045 Dyan Road, B0128 Rehaghy Road, B0035 Dungannon Road.
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