A2 Sydenham Bypass - overview
The A2 Sydenham Bypass is one of the most heavily trafficked carriageways in the Belfast Metropolitan Area and forms a vital section of the strategic highway network, linking Bangor and Belfast. The road also provides access to the key gateways of George Best City Airport, Belfast Port and to several large residential areas. The proposed scheme will widen a 2.5km stretch of the existing A2 Sydenham Bypass from a dual 2-lane carriageway to a dual 3-lane carriageway.
Scheme Development
The scheme has completed 2 of the 3 stage scheme assessment process.
Stage 1
This focused on identifying the environmental, engineering, economic and traffic advantages and disadvantages, as well as the constraints associated with broadly defined improvement strategies. This concluded in the selection of the proposed corridor in May 2008.
Stage 2
A detailed assessment of a range of options within the proposed corridor was considered. This concluded in the selection of the Preferred Option in February 2010.
Prioritisation of Major Roads Programme
On 14 August 2023 the Department published a prioritised list of major road schemes that will continue to be progressed. There are a number of reasons why the prioritisation of projects, currently in the pipeline, was necessary, including the challenging budgetary position and constrained resources (in terms of finance and staff) and, importantly, the Department’s commitments under the Climate Change (NI) Act 2022.
Transport policies and plans are currently being reviewed and updated to align with these commitments and this work will help define what major transport infrastructure projects should be included within any future major roads programme.
The publication of the prioritised list of major road schemes, that will continue to be progressed, explains that development work on the Sydenham Bypass widening scheme has been paused. Its place on a future major works programme will be informed by the Department’s emerging transport plans and any decision by the Minister.
A2 leaflet preferred option (February 2010)
Estimated cost
This scheme is estimated to cost between £40M and £55M (2010).
Scheme documents
Updated February 2024