BYPASS MOVES ANOTHER STEP FORWARD

Mr Kennedy was speaking in the Assembly in reply to a question by Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan, who requested an update on the development of strategic road improvements.

There was disappointment that the bypass had not been included in the multi-million pound roads schemes package, which was announced last week.

However, Mr Kennedy revealed the corridor assessment report has been completed, which indicated that two potential routes should be taken through more detailed assessment to ascertain the preferred route for the scheme.

Mr Kennedy also stressed that the “pace of further progression” was dependant on funding being made available to his Department.

“A bypass would benefit not just Lisburn but all of Northern Ireland, given the regional significance of the Sprucefield area,” said Mr Givan.

The Lagan Valley MLA, who thanked the Minister for the update, also expressed concern about congestion at the Hillsborough and Sprucefield roundabouts.

“The Minister will be aware that road users divert off the dual carriageway, go through Hillsborough village, and back onto the dual carriageway to speed up the process. Is there any development to try to manage that problem faced by locals?” he asked.

Mr Kennedy, who said he is a frequent user of the stretch of road, said plans were underway to signalise the Hillsborough roundabout in the hope that it would help to ease congestion.

“As an almost daily user of the A1 and the intersection interchange at Hillsborough/Sprucefield, I appreciate the frustrations of road travellers,” said Mr Kennedy.

“Officials have plans to partially signalise that roundabout, and I recently met elected representatives as the first step of a consultation exercise.

“The proposal is for signals that will operate during the morning peak traffic period on some of the approach roads to the roundabout,” he continued. “Their effect will be to give greater priority to A1 northbound traffic, thereby reducing tailbacks on the approach to the roundabout and making the alternative route through the village less attractive.

“To be effective, however, they must necessarily introduce a delay to traffic exiting the village onto the roundabout.

“The present consultation exercise is designed to determine the level of public support for the scheme, which will, undoubtedly, influence how we proceed,” he concluded.

Mr Givan said: “I welcome the proposal by the Department of Regional development to introduce traffic signals during peak times if they receive public support. This measure, as indicated by the Minister, would help to maintain traffic flow on the A1 whilst also reducing the number of motorists who travel through Hillsborough as an alternative. I know my colleague Cllr Paul Stewart has raised this issue in Lisburn City Council and I would urge the public who use this stretch of road to respond to the consultation.”

[email protected]