The Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2025 (BMTP), published in 2005, recognises that the development of the Titanic Quarter area of the docks will require a second access point. Currently, the access point at Queen's Quay / M3 offslip is the main entry point. In addition, the existing traffic-light controlled junction on the Sydenham Bypass at Dee Street creates a bottleneck for traffic travelling east from the M3 motorway.

This privately-funded plan will see the Dee Street junction closed, and replaced by a new junction at the Connswater River bridge about 700 metres further east. The Connsbank Road (currently closed to traffic) would be re-opened to connect the junction north to Airport Road. All vehiclar access to and from Victoria Park will be via this new road, although the existing "car and pedestrian" subway will be retained.

The location of the new junction, and the existing Dee Street junction, are indicated on this screenshot from Google Earth (Titanic Quarter is the huge area around Queen's Road). The thin white link heading north west from the site of the proposed GSJ is Connsbank Road which would be re-opened as part of the scheme.

In February 2010, a preliminary design of the proposed junction was released to the public, as part of the wider A2 Sydenham Bypass widening scheme. This design is shown below. It shows that this will be a "compact" grade-separated junction characterised by looped sliproads connected with roundabouts, and relatively short merges with the Sydenham Bypass. The planning application (ref: Z/2009/1266) was submitted in October 2009, and Roads Service have stated that the scheme is likely to proceed before the Sydenham Bypass widening scheme proceeds.

Design of the junction as of February 2010. [Roads Service map]

Updates

8 Oct 2011: The minutes of a meeting held almost exactly a year ago (which I have just found) sheds some light on this scheme. It says "Colin Sykes (CS) reported the provision of Connsbank junction is a planning condition of the overall Phase 2 development however an Article 28 application to remove the opening of the TSP as a trigger for the junction was received in May 2010. Roads Service has provided a response and has requested that further information be provided in order to assess the transport issues involved." This appears to mean that Titanic Quarter Limited had originally agreed to build this junction as soon as the Titanic Signature Project (TSP) was completed. The TSP is currently nearing completion. The "Article 28 application" appears to be an attempt by Titanic Quarter Limited to remove this requirement. Although Roads Service say that they have replied, their actual response is not recorded so we don't know if they agree or disagree. Presumably the TSP-based trigger was set up in order to provide better access once traffic levels reached a certain point - and it could be that traffic levels in Titanic Quarter are not expected to be as high as anticipated when the trigger was agreed. The minutes of a DRD board meeting held on 8 August 2011 are very vague, but suggest that the issue around the timing of this junction is still ongoing. There is no sign of any work on the ground.

1 March 2010: As part of wider documentation, published in late Feb 2010, detailing the preferred option for upgrading the Sydenham Bypass new information on this scheme has been released. This includes the design of the document (shown above) as well as the information that the planning application for the junction was submitted in October 2009 and is currently being considered. Roads Service have indicated that the scheme is likely to proceed before the upgrade of the Sydenham Bypass. The latter scheme is due sometime between 2014 and 2018, so this scheme may well proceed in the next few years. The fact that it is being funded by the developers of Titanic Quarter, means that there may be a more immediate motivation to have it built.

25 Apr 2008: Roads Service kindly responded to my request for an update on the scheme. They confirmed that the scheme is being privately funded and that the timescale therefore depends on developments in Titanic Quarter. However, they are apparently also working to try to ensure that the scheme proceeds at the same time as the Sydenham Bypass widening scheme (see link above) to minimise disruption. The widening scheme is due to take place sometime in the period 2013-2018 which may help date this proposal as well.

Funding

This scheme is to be privately funded. The Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan states that "The timing and the provision of all access improvements to the Harbour Estate (Titanic Quarter), as well as other improvements to infrastructure, public transport and transport initiatives, as part of the phased development of the area, will be clearly identified and agreed with the Department. The funding for all these improvements will be the responsibility of developers either in full or in a very substantial part.". This was confirmed by Roads Service by e-mail in April 2008.

Photos

The Dee Street bridge over the A2 Sydenham Bypass seen looking west in late 2006. The road goes over the bridge to the right, then curves round 180° to join the A2 at traffic lights just beyond the bridge. This junction will be closed as part of the scheme. [Photo by Wesley Johnston]

Site of the new junction. This view looking north west along the disused Connsbank Road is taken from the Sydenham Bypass (which runs left to right behind the camera). This road would be re-opened to provide access from the new junction to the Titanic Quarter ahead. Picture taken in late 2006. The Connswater River runs to the right of the road. [Photo by Wesley Johnston]