17/01/2006
Minister launches Westlink revamp
Development Minister Shaun Woodward has today cut the first sod on the £104 million to upgrade the M1/Westlink in Belfast.
In a ceremony to launch the three-year improvement scheme, Mr Woodward stated that the upgrading of the Westlink was not only a significant development for Belfast, but for all of Northern Ireland.
He said: "Once completed, these improvements will provide better access to and through Belfast and this will benefit all road users, including public transport, the haulage industry, as well as private car users. Although this scheme will cause delays during construction, these works on this key strategic route will deliver huge benefits to the Northern Ireland economy."
He added that he has taken a number of measures to prevent any unnecessary disruptions and will keep road users fully informed of traffic conditions throughout the work.
The Minister said: "During the construction period, it will make sense for those who can to avoid Westlink. We will be helping road users to do this by providing signed alternative routes for traffic with a destination beyond Belfast; restricting, as far as possible, other road works on the alternative routes, whether by utilities or Roads Service; improving key alternative routes - such as the improvements that are well advanced on the Hillhall Road route from Lisburn to south and east Belfast."
He continued: "I am committed to providing road users with better information on real time traffic conditions so they can plan their route better.
"This will be available through radio bulletins, information leaflets, the Roads Service website, and from variable message signs on the motorway approaches and on the exit from the Port of Belfast. Also, anyone can sign-up for a new active traffic alert service, which will send out an e-mail alert if there are unusual delays."
The Roads Service and Translink will discuss alternative routes along the M1 corridor, which will include park and ride sites, with a dedicated bus service along an extended bus priority lane on the M1 hard shoulder.
From 6am to 10pm Monday to Saturday (11am om Sundays) two lanes in each direction will be open along the route.
The Minister concluded that he would ask all road users to be patient and use the traffic information provided to cut down congestion and added that this may be an opportune time to consider public transport services supplied.
(EF/SP)
In a ceremony to launch the three-year improvement scheme, Mr Woodward stated that the upgrading of the Westlink was not only a significant development for Belfast, but for all of Northern Ireland.
He said: "Once completed, these improvements will provide better access to and through Belfast and this will benefit all road users, including public transport, the haulage industry, as well as private car users. Although this scheme will cause delays during construction, these works on this key strategic route will deliver huge benefits to the Northern Ireland economy."
He added that he has taken a number of measures to prevent any unnecessary disruptions and will keep road users fully informed of traffic conditions throughout the work.
The Minister said: "During the construction period, it will make sense for those who can to avoid Westlink. We will be helping road users to do this by providing signed alternative routes for traffic with a destination beyond Belfast; restricting, as far as possible, other road works on the alternative routes, whether by utilities or Roads Service; improving key alternative routes - such as the improvements that are well advanced on the Hillhall Road route from Lisburn to south and east Belfast."
He continued: "I am committed to providing road users with better information on real time traffic conditions so they can plan their route better.
"This will be available through radio bulletins, information leaflets, the Roads Service website, and from variable message signs on the motorway approaches and on the exit from the Port of Belfast. Also, anyone can sign-up for a new active traffic alert service, which will send out an e-mail alert if there are unusual delays."
The Roads Service and Translink will discuss alternative routes along the M1 corridor, which will include park and ride sites, with a dedicated bus service along an extended bus priority lane on the M1 hard shoulder.
From 6am to 10pm Monday to Saturday (11am om Sundays) two lanes in each direction will be open along the route.
The Minister concluded that he would ask all road users to be patient and use the traffic information provided to cut down congestion and added that this may be an opportune time to consider public transport services supplied.
(EF/SP)
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