Belfast traffic ‘chaos’: UUP challenges Minister John O’Dowd over road works during Northern Ireland football game, Belfast Giants match and National Police Memorial Day event

“I have never witnessed Belfast suffering traffic gridlock like that endured by motorists last Saturday,” North Down UUP MLA Alan Chamber said in a statement.

Last Saturday the Department for Infrastructure closed the country bound section of the Sydenham By-Pass as far out as the City Airport to facilitate resurfacing work, he said.

“They claimed to have had a robust traffic management plan in place to deal with any disruption this would cause. What resulted was some of the worst traffic gridlock I have ever witnessed in Belfast.”

He said this happened when Northern Ireland were due to play a game at the National Stadium, Belfast Giants were playing a game in the SSE Arena and The Waterfront Hall was playing host to “an extremely prestigious event”, the National Police Memorial Day.

As a result he spent a frustrating two hours making “stop and crawl progress” in Belfast.

“Around lunchtime I travelled forty miles from the West to Stockman’s Lane M1 junction in around forty minutes. After conducting some business I rejoined the M1 for the short journey to Duncrue Street. This part of my journey resulted in a most frustrating two hour stop and crawl progress to the junction with the M2.”

“The subsequent return travel through Belfast City Centre was more of the same. “

He has now submitted some questions to the Minister for Infrastructure, John O’Dowd MLA, about “the traffic chaos”.

He added: “I have asked if his officials in drawing up their plan had factored in the events due to happen in Belfast on Saturday.”

The Department of Infrastructure responded that the work had been planned for the weekend because that is when traffic is at the lowest volume, but that it was reviewing traffic flow measures for other pending weekend work.

A Departmental spokesperson said: “A £1.7 million resurfacing scheme on the Sydenham Bypass, Belfast commenced on Friday 23 September 2022. This follows months of planning and engagement with stakeholders on how to complete this essential work on this key route safely. Resurfacing is a valuable public service that in many cases requires a road closure for works to be completed safely – there is no ideal time for works of this scale which will inevitably cause congestion given traffic volumes on this part of the network.

“Works were scheduled for the weekend and overnight because this is when the traffic flow is at its lightest compared to during the week. Traffic management arrangements were publicised on social media and through partner organisations like Belfast City Airport.

“The Department met yesterday with contractors to review the weekend work to see how congestion can be managed over the weekends of 30 September - 3 October, 7- 10 October, 14-17 October and 21- 24 October when further works are planned. As a result increased signage and additional cones will be used to encourage vehicles to use the planned diversion along the Sydenham Road as opposed to the Newtownards Road. The Department is also engaging with our contractor to see if there is a way to safely open access to the M3 bridge from the Westlink to the Sydenham Road for future phases and the public will be informed accordingly. Some of last weekend’s congestion may have been a result of motorists not following the signed diversions. Therefore, the Department would encourage all road users to use the signed diversion routes as these are designed to keep traffic moving and to limit congestion on other roads.”