Completion of £450,000 A1 road safety improvement schemes, Banbridge
Date published:
Two road safety improvement schemes on the A1 Dual Carriageway at Banbridge are now complete.
The schemes, designed to improve safety for motorists, involved the erection of a central reserve safety barrier between Springwell Loanin and Castlewellan Road Bridge on the Banbridge Bypass.
To facilitate the barrier installation, it was necessary to permanently close all crossing points in the central reserve along this stretch of the A1.
This significant investment of £450,000 will greatly improve road safety along this extremely busy stretch of the A1. The installation of the central safety barrier is welcome news for the 30,000 drivers who use the road each day.
This is part of a number of incremental improvements which are being progressed in advance of the delivery of the full A1 Junctions Phase 2 scheme. The works, when complete, will deliver benefits for road users for many years to come.
Notes to editors:
- The full A1 Junctions Phase 2 (A1J2) Road Improvement Scheme involves a number of further improvements to the A1 between Hillsborough Roundabout and Loughbrickland, including the 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.
- Development work on the full A1J2 scheme is ongoing and the current phase of this work involves the completion of the detailed design and Environmental Impact Assessment in preparation for taking the proposal through the Statutory Procedures. Whilst progression of the full scheme to construction remains subject to the proposal clearing the statutory procedures and funding, DfI Roads is currently developing a strategy to provide incremental improvements, where possible, along the route.
- The DfI Project Team recently held a Public Consultation Event to present the current A1J2 scheme proposals and invite feedback from members of the public and other stakeholders. The Event took place in Banbridge Old Town Hall, Dromore Town Hall and Hillsborough Court House on 15th, 19th and 21st February 2018 respectively. The consultation period ran between 12 February - 16 March 2018.
- All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974383.
- The department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the department’s internal records management system. The department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.
- Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure