One million man hours milestone on Belfast roads scheme: Murphy

One million man hours have been completed on the £137 million M1/M2/Westlink upgrade in Belfast announced Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy today.

Speaking during a visit to the M1/Westlink site, the Minister welcomed the good progress being made and said: "We have achieved a significant milestone of one million man hours. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the contractors HMC and their 400 strong workforce in meeting key deadlines and remaining on target for completion in early 2009. I would also like to thank the public for their patience while the works continue to progress well.

In October the new Grosvenor Road Bridge was opened to traffic for the first time and earlier this month the temporary bridge that kept the Grosvenor Road open for the last year was removed.

“Over the next six months the final layout of the road will start to take shape with the completion of major elements of the M1/Westlink Scheme. The next major milestones include the completion of Roden Street Footbridge, Stockman’s Lane Bridge, Stockman’s Lane Junction and Grosvenor Road Junction,” said Mr Murphy.

When the underpass at Broadway is completed in 2009, traffic will be able to travel uninterrupted along this entire section of road and York Street junction will be the only traffic signal controlled junction remaining on the motorway network.

Mr Murphy said: “I realise that when the current road works are completed traffic will be able to travel much quicker along Westlink to York Street junction. I am satisfied that this will be able to cope with this increase traffic flow in the short term. However, the longer term solution involves grade separating this junction and Roads Service expects to appoint a consultancy firm to develop this major road improvement scheme in the next few weeks. We expect this proposal will cost around £50 million.”

The HMC Project Director, Leo Martin, said: “I welcome the one million man-hours worked on the project without any serious injury to the workforce. However I must stress that there is no room for complacency regarding health and safety matters. I would urge motorists in particular to be mindful of the temporary speed limits and the workers behind the cones particularly in these winter months. With regard to the progress there is much done and much still left to do. However we remain on target and look forward to another busy year ahead.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The M1/Westlink Scheme is part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract which is being funded through a Public Private Partnership.
2. The works are being undertaken by HMC, a joint venture which comprises local contractors; Graham Construction and Northstone as well as German contractor Bilfinger Berger.
3. York Street Interchange is a key link in the Strategic Road Network that presently connects the A12 Westlink, the M2 Motorway and the M3 Motorway through a complex arrangement of traffic signals that interface with the surface street network.
4. This £50 million proposal to improve the York Street Junction was included in the ‘Expanded Strategic Road Improvement Programme 2015’.
5. The start of construction is subject to the scheme successfully completing the necessary Statutory Procedures (Environmental Statement, Designation Order and Vesting Order), a positive outcome to the Comprehensive Spending Review and the provision of adequate funding from DRD’s Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland.
6. Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies or Michaela Smyth, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, Tel: 028 9054 0372. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

Media opportunity:

Photo/TV opportunity on the Grosvenor Road Bbridge, Westlink, Belfast at 10.30am Wednesday 28 November 2007. Minister will be available for interview.