AQW 39213/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 27/01/2026
Answered On Date: 05/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) whether her Department will undertake an urgent review to determine how the M1 west bound, between junction six, Saintfield Road, and junction eight at Blaris, became flooded during Storm Chandra; and (ii) to detail any preventative work that can take place to stop it happening again.

Answer:

Storm Chandra brought high winds and significant levels of rainfall in a relatively short period of time, resulting in a number of incidents of flooding across our road network, including on the M1 west bound.

Given the extent of the disruption across the road network, it will take time for staff to undertake investigatory work in relation to the flooding as we prioritise work to clear water and debris from our road network.

This particular stretch of the M1 is managed on our behalf through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. My officials will work with the contractor to determine the cause of the flooding and identify if any remedial works can be undertaken to alleviate this problem in the future.