Park and ride scheme launched at M1

The Transport Minister, David Cairns, has today opened a new motorway Busway and Park & Ride site at Sprucefield in Lisburn.

The Roads Service has constructed a 320-space Park & Ride site at Sprucefield that will be served by Translink buses throughout the duration of the M1/Westlink roadworks.

It is hoped that the site is strategically placed to attract Belfast bound drivers from the A1 and the M1.

The facility will also allow buses to use the hard shoulder of the M1 motorway, which has been increased by 3.3km.

This adds to the existing Motorway Busway which runs from Stockmans Lane to Broadway.

The busway, which cost £875,000, incorporates the latest technology using safety cameras, which automatically detect a stopped vehicle on the hard shoulder.

The hours of operation of the Busway are 7.30am-9.30am and 3.00pm-6.30pm, and is intended to help all passengers using the M1 to avoid lengthy morning peak queues at this location.

Parking is free, all day security provided and a shuttle bus will run at 15 minute intervals at peak times to the Europa Bus Centre. This runs between 06.30 to 10.00 and 16.00 to 18.30.

The existing Ulsterbus Service 238A serves the site between the peak periods.

The cost of this service will be £5 for a return trip, which includes free car parking. A five day ticket will also be available for £20 using a Smartlink card.

The Roads Service has also recently opened a similar Park & Ride site at Blacks Road from which Translink is operating an express bus service to the City Centre.

This provides 220 free parking spaces with all day security, and again, Translink are running an express bus, every 15 minutes at peak periods, to the Europa Bus Centre.

Commenting on the launch of the service, Roads Minister David Cairns, said: "These are major elements of our strategy to help motorists avoid disruption during the M1/Westlink Upgrade. They offer an attractive and realistic alternative for motorists travelling to Belfast on the M1 and A1 routes.

"I would like to acknowledge the considerable efforts that have been made to ease traffic conditions and specifically the public's support for these measures. The public's patience and willingness to change how they travel has allowed the temporary traffic management measures to cope, for the benefit of all."

(EF)