| A1 grade separation - final 4 junctions | ||||||||||||||
This proposal (also referred to as "A1 Junction Improvements Phase 2") is one of the final steps to turn the entire A1 into an "Expressway", which means that the road has a solid central barrier, where all entries and exits are left-turn only and where there are no traffic lights or roundabouts on the main road. To make this possible, the busiest junctions have to be grade separated (ie turned into flyover-type junctions). This scheme includes the final four junctions in this process, all of which are rural roads:
As of June 2009, a fifth proposal was added to this list:
The current scheme is still in the forward planning schedule, and construction due by 2018 (as of 2008). Once all the grade separated junctions are built, some side roads will remain, but vehicles will only be permitted to make left-in and left-out manoeuvres. The A1 will not become a motorway since it will still fall far short of the design requirement of that type of road in terms of the spacing of junctions, standard of junctions, curve radii and hard shoulders. Development of the Proposals The original 2006 proposals included a map which suggested that the four junctions would be:
The last of these four was built by a private developer in 2006, as part of the Bridgewater Park retail park. The Hillsborough roundabout upgrade was subsequently included as part of the A1/M1 Sprucefield Bypass. In the "Investment Delivery Plan for Roads" published in April 2008, the plan was re-launched with these two proposals removed, and the proposed junction at Dromore also removed. The B25 proposal remained, and was joined by three others to make the current list of four. Map
Google Earth screenshot of the A1 (yellow line running from top right to bottom left) showing the locations of the four proposed grade separated junctions, as well as the main towns of Hillsborough, Dromore and Banbridge. Progress 20 Jan 2010: According to the Dromore Today, a limited consultation exercise was carried out in late December and early January. The consultants wrote to a range of interested parties, and also sought the names of those individuals or organisations who should also be consulted. More detailed consultations are to be carried out later. Bizzarely, the newspaper article in question focuses entirely on what the reporter calls the "massive disruption" that the scheme will cause to a small number of people living on the side roads in question, while completely ignoring the fact that closing up right-turns on the A1 will undoubtedly save dozens of lives in the years ahead. Those who will no longer be able to make right turns on the A1 will undoubtedly feel inconvenienced, but surely not to the same degree as the families of those who have lost their lives at these dangerous junctions. 29 Aug 2009: In their report to Banbridge Borough Council in June 2009, Roads Service added the following comment: "The provision of a northbound on-slip linking from the A50 Castlewellan Road, |
