AQW 17974/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 26/04/2021
Answered On Date: 12/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure why the item M1 All Lanes (Managed Motorway) appears in her Department’s capital budget for 2021.

Answer:

The Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) Investment Delivery Plan (IDP) for Roads to 2018 sets out a series of roads projects at various stages of development that could be taken forward. Currently bids, in the desirable category, are made on this basis. The proposed new Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP) will set new investment priorities for strategic roads for the next 15 years and I hope to be in a position to publish this for consultation later this year.

The Managed Motorway proposal emanated from the M1/A1 Sprucefield Bypass project where early development work indicated that options could be enhanced through the provision of additional capacity on the M1 between Sprucefield and Belfast. Whilst a linked project further work is required to identify an appropriate solution which may include the consideration of managed motorways. I am still considering my capital priorities for 2021/22, and will be reviewing the progression of managed motorways in this financial year.