AQW 8693/16-21


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 07/12/2016
Answered On Date: 20/12/2016
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure when he will be in a position to provide a timescale for the upgrade of four junctions on the A1 dual carriageway between Hillsborough and Banbridge, thus enabling all gap junctions to be closed on that section.


Answer:
TransportNI is developing the A1 Junctions Phase 2 Road Improvement Scheme, which involves further improvements to the A1 between Hillsborough Roundabout and Loughbrickland.
The proposal includes construction of four flyover type junctions at: Listullycurran Road; Gowdystown Road; Skeltons Road/Drumneath Road; and Waringsford Road as well as a northbound on slip at Castlewellan Road; and a Link Road from the Milebush Road onto the underpass junction at Hillsborough Road, Dromore.
The proposal also includes closing up all openings in the central median; installing a continuous central safety barrier and, closing some minor road junctions along this stretch of the route.
A significant amount of development work has already been carried out for the proposal, however, much remains to be done. The current phase of this work involves the completion of the detailed design and Environmental Statement in preparation for taking the proposal through the Statutory Procedures, which will likely include a Public Inquiry.
Progression to construction remains subject to the proposal clearing the statutory procedures, having a satisfactory economic appraisal and, given other competing priorities, is dependent on funding being made available in future budget settlements.
TransportNI is currently developing a strategy to provide incremental improvements where possible along the route. This will involve identifying locations where the implementation of sections of central median safety barrier can be brought forward in advance of the delivery of the full A1 Junctions Phase 2 scheme.
The first such improvement involves the erection of a central safety barrier between Hillsborough Roundabout and the flyover type junction at Dromore Road, Hillsborough and also the closure of the median at Hillsborough to prevent the right turn movement for southbound traffic into Moira Road. It is proposed to complete this section early in 2017.