A major Belfast city centre route that has been fully closed for over a year is set to reopen just in time for the busy festive shopping period.

Translink has announced that Durham Street / Boyne Bridge Place is due to reopen on Saturday, 29 November 2025, at 8.00 am.

The road closure has been in place for over twelve months to allow for an extensive programme of public realm, utility improvement, and re-grading works as part of the surrounding Belfast Grand Central Station project. The works included the controversial dismantling of the historic Boyne Bridge (built in 1936), which had provoked protests and concerns from the local community and businesses. The now re-designed route will open again to pedestrians and road users, featuring convenient drop-off and pick-up provision and new pedestrian crossings that provide easy, direct access to the new £340 million station, local communities, and businesses. The road design was carefully considered to balance road traffic flow with the safety and needs of pedestrians and active travel users.

Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, said the reopening was "good news for our passengers, the local communities, pedestrians and road users, providing safe, convenient and attractive access to Belfast Grand Central Station and the surrounding area."

He added that anyone passing through the area will notice the "vast transformation underway," including the development of the impressive Saltwater Square—an attractive new public realm space outside the station due for completion next year.

Duane McCreadie, Project Director at Farrans Sacyr JV, confirmed the team was pushing hard to reach this milestone, noting that the reopening will have a positive impact on the city, directly benefiting shoppers, retailers, and the hospitality industry.