This announcement marks the beginning of formal statutory procedures for this major investment in the roads infrastructure in Belfast.
The major improvement to the A55 route, known as the “Outer Ring Road”, will widen a 1.3 km section of the existing road between Glen Road and Kings Road, providing two traffic lanes in each direction, together with a central median to improve safety for right-turning vehicles. The scheme will also upgrade the traffic signals at the Shandon Park junction and widen the existing footways, to provide facilities for cyclists.
The Minister said “I am well aware of the need to remove this ‘bottleneck’ on the Outer Ring Road around east Belfast, which carries about 38,000 vehicles per day. The widening and junction improvements will improve safety, reflecting the needs of local residents, and will reduce congestion for strategic traffic.
“The impact on the local community and the environment has been a key consideration in deciding the most appropriate solution and I am satisfied that the proposed scheme strikes the best balance between the benefits to the wider public and the effects of road widening through this predominantly residential area.”
Following the public consultation last June and more recent representations made by local residents, the detailed design of the scheme will be progressed, taking account of all the comments received. Roads Service officials will consult directly with all affected property owners to explain the effects of the scheme and to fine tune the road alignment to limit its impact. In addition, further surveys will be undertaken to inform a detailed environmental assessment of the proposals.
The Minister explained: “The scheme will now be progressed through the necessary statutory procedures, with preparation of an Environmental Statement, Direction Order and Vesting Order. When these are published in 2008, the public will have the opportunity to comment formally on the scheme. Public information days will be held locally at that stage with detailed drawings available for scrutiny and staff will be on hand to answer questions. Arrangements will be advertised in the local press and local residents will be informed directly by a letter drop.”
Notes to Editors:
- The A55 Knock Road forms part of the Outer Ring Road, linking Milltown Road in the South of Belfast to the A2 at Tillysburn in the East. It is part of the Strategic Highway Network within the Belfast area.
- The majority of this route is served by a dual carriageway, with two lanes in each direction. However, a section between Glen Road and Kings Road has one lane in each direction, creating a bottleneck for traffic. This causes congestion at peak times with associated safety problems.
- The Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan identifies the Knock Road section of the A55 for improvement. This scheme is currently in Roads Service’s Preparation Pool. This is a list of schemes that will be taken forward through the relevant statutory procedures, to construction stage, usually within five years.
- Consultants will commence the detailed assessment of the preferred option which will include a detailed evaluation of the environmental impacts of the scheme and an assessment of options for right-turn facilities and the traffic impacts on the surrounding area.
Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Press Office, Department for Regional Development, 028 9054 000.
