£200,000 A1 road safety improvement scheme, Banbridge

A £200,000 road safety improvement scheme on the A1 Dual Carriageway at Banbridge will commence on Sunday 11 February.

The scheme, designed to improve safety for motorists, involves the erection of a central reserve safety barrier between Springwell Loanin and Bannview Road Bridge on the Banbridge Bypass and is expected to be complete within three weeks.

To facilitate installation of the barrier, it is necessary to permanently close all crossing points in the central reserve along this stretch of the A1.

This significant investment of £200,000 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.

The temporary traffic management required to carry out the works safely will consist of a 40mph speed restriction and lane closures adjacent to the central median in both the northbound and southbound carriageways.  To minimise disruption to motorists, the lane closures are scheduled for overnight, between 7.30 pm and 6.00 am Monday to Friday and all day at the weekends. The 40mph speed restriction will apply at all times for the safety of road users ‎until works are fully completed.

The Department has carefully programmed the works operations and traffic management arrangements in order to minimise any inconvenience to the public, however motorists should be aware that some delays may be expected and that additional time should be allowed when planning any journeys.

Notes to editors: 

1. The full A1 Junctions Phase 2 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.
2. Development work on the full A1 Junctions Phase 2 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.
3. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office on 028 9054 0007 or e-mail: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk.
4. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.
5. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra and Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

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