Firstly the new Grosvenor Road junction opens to traffic on Tuesday 4 March at 7am and secondly Broadway underpass will be finished six months ahead of schedule.
Speaking during a visit to the M1/Westlink site, the Minister welcomed the good progress being made and said: "Completion of the Grosvenor Road Junction is yet another important milestone in the £104million upgrade of the M1/Westlink. The new slip roads constructed at this junction will greatly improve access to and from Belfast city centre and the Royal Hospitals. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of everyone involved in delivering this very challenging element of the project on target.
“Over the coming months we will see further significant milestones achieved on the M1/Westlink Project, with the completion of the Roden Street Footbridge and Stockman’s Lane junction.
“I am also pleased to report that work is progressing well at Broadway junction and later this summer traffic will be able to travel through the underpass for the first time, some six months ahead of programme. This is great news for people using Broadway.”
Construction work started at Grosvenor Road junction in February 2006 with the diversion of a vast array of underground services to allow the new underpass to be constructed. In October 2006 a large temporary bridge was erected over Westlink to keep the Grosvenor Road open during construction of the new underpass. The underpass was completed in September 2007 and in October 2007 the Grosvenor Road Bridge was opened to traffic.
Mr Murphy said: “Completion of the new slip roads signals the end of two years of major road works at the Grosvenor Road junction with Westlink. I would like to thank the public for their continued patience during this period.”
Leo Martin, Project Director for the Construction Firm HMC, paid tribute to his workforce and said: “I would like to commend everyone involved with the work. While the public have been able to see various parts of the work over the last 18 months, few would appreciate the extent of the planning and preparation to complete a complex underpass like this. The numerous public utility diversions and the arrangements for traffic were significant constraints which had to be managed."
Slip roads will not be provided on the northern (M2) side of Grosvenor Road junction, due to the proximity of the existing Divis Street junction. However, traffic travelling to and from the M2 motorway will be able to leave and join Westlink at Divis Street junction.
Notes to Editors:
- The M1/Westlink Scheme is part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract which is being funded through a Public Private Partnership.
- 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.
- The Minister will be available on site for interviews on Tuesday morning. Contact Press Office on Monday for details.
- Traffic and Travel/News desks are free to use the operational details of the Grovensor Road opening prior to the embargo.
- 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.
