Three-year wait for new bypass

Three-year wait for new bypass

21 April 2021

WORK on Ballynahinch’s new multi-million pound bypass may not be completed until the spring of 2024 at the earliest.

The news has been confirmed this week by the Department for Infrastructure which has revealed that work on the eagerly-awaited scheme is not expected to start for another 18 months.

Construction work on the largest ever road scheme proposed for the district — which could cost up to £45m — is expected to take an additional 18 months to complete, if funding is made available.

The update on the proposed scheme’s timetable comes after Stormont roads minister Nichola Mallon confirmed on Monday that she intends to make a so-called direction order for the near two-mile bypass linking the Newcastle and Belfast roads.

Direction orders designate the length of proposed road schemes with the roads minister reaffirming

her commitment to the delivery of the Ballynahinch proposal when funding becomes available.

The bypass is designed to alleviate chronic town centre congestion in Ballynahinch and along the main approach roads to the town, with a number of politicians seeking confirmation that money for the scheme will be allocated. 

They are also demanding to know when construction work will start given the importance of the scheme to address chronic traffic congestion and help revive the market town’s economic fortunes.

Speculation had been mounting that work on the eagerly-awaited scheme could potentially begin sometime this year given that the project is shovel ready. However, that is not going to happen given the update provided by the government department last night.

The roads minister said the important project will deliver a bypass that will “significantly reduce traffic” in the centre of Ballynahinch and improve journey time reliability and safety on the main Belfast to Newcastle Road. 

In addition to making a direction order, Mrs Mallon has confirmed that her department is currently exploring further opportunities to improve Ballynahinch town centre to create a “sustainable, liveable place where people have the space to stay, meet, shop and safely walk, wheel and cycle”.

She explained this will include opportunities for active and sustainable travel in the town including a new footway/cycleway and a park and share facility along the route of the bypass. 

“We have a real opportunity to seize this chance for change and build back better together for our local communities,” the roads minister declared. “As Minister, I’m committed to making progress in Ballynahinch and right across the North. 

“This is a positive step forward for the local community who have waited many years for progress on the Ballynahinch bypass and moving forward with it is part of my plan to aid economic recovery and community transformation, while addressing regional imbalance.”

Confirmation of the direction order comes after roads officials released a computer generated image on the Department for Infrastructure website which provides an aerial fly-through of the new road scheme, beginning at the Newcastle Road end.

Major new roundabouts are proposed at the Belfast Road junction with the Saintfield Road and at the Newcastle Road junction with the Downpatrick Road, with a new bridge constructed over the Moss Road. 

Overtaking lanes stretching almost 900 metres are proposed at either end of the by-pass where the major new roundabouts are to be constructed, with the scheme also including a shared footpath and cycle lane.

Roads officials insist that the Ballynahinch scheme will reduce journey times and improve road safety, while politicians urging the roads minister to confirm an early start date for the eagerly-awaited scheme are confident that it can play a key role in the economic regeneration of the market town.

A Department for Infrastructure spokesman said last night: “It is estimated that it would take around 18 months to the start of construction from any decision to move to procurement and a further 18 months to construct the scheme subject to funding.”