| A2 Sydenham Bypass - widening | ||||||||||||||
The A2 Sydenham Bypass is Northern Ireland's oldest dual-carriageway, having been completed in 1959. Having looked at the future of Belfast traffic the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan of 2004 recommended that it be widened to three lanes from its start at the M3 to its terminus at the A55 (Knocknagoney). The BMTP also recommended that the existing traffic light controlled T-junction at Dee Street be closed and replaced with a new grade-separated junction close to Victoria Park (see link above). This would provide access to the Harbour Estate and to the Holywood Arches area. This new junction be provided by private developers as part of conditions for planning ap proval in these areas. The design is being progressed by ARUP. Design The new road will consist of three lanes in each direction between the M3 and Knocknagoney. Countrybound, the onslip from Bridge End will become the third lane. At the Knocknagoney end, the the rightmost lane will become the turn-right lane for traffic wishing to turn onto the Outer Ring. Citybound the existing three lanes through the Knocknagoney junction will continue along the Sydenham Bypass instead of merging into two at present. Just before the M3 begins, the leftmost lane will become the offslip to Bridge End. In order to fit the widened road into a smaller space, the new road will have no hard shoulders. The north side of the road will feature a 3.5 metre wide shared cycle and footway, while the south side will feature a 1.8 metre wide verge (ie not a full hard shoulder). This differs from the current arrangement where there is a cycleway on each carriageway. The diagram below (given out to the public at the public consultation in May 2008) shows the current and proposed arrangements:
The timetable for construction is the period 2013 to 2018, but is dependent not only on the scheme passing statutory processes, but also on the availablity of funding and the readiness of the private developer of Titanic Quarter (since it has to proceed at the same time as the new Connswater junction). Map This map was given out to the public at the Public Consultation event in May 2008. It shows the proposals for the new road, including the location of the new grade separated junction (purple arrow). |
Photo
View looking south west (towards the city centre) along the Sydenham Bypass from the former entrance to the City Airport in 2000. Since this was taken the crash barriers on the left (beside the railway) and in the centre have been upgraded. [Wesley Johnston]
Updates
22 Feb 2010: Roads Service are holding two more "public information events" this week and next. This will likely include an announcement of the "preferred option", ie some concrete proposals for exactly what is to happen to the Sydenham Bypass, and the junctions along it such as at Dee Street and the proposed new junction at Connsbank Road. The events will be held as follows:
- Wed, 24th Feb 12pm-8pm at Dee Street Community Centre, 12-16 Dee Street, Belfast.
- Mon, 1st Mar 5pm-8pm at Inverary Community Centre, Inverary Avenue, Belfast.
As always, I would strongly encourage all those with an interest in the scheme to turn up as this is one of the main opportunities the public has to engage with the planners.
23 Jan 2010: According to their web site, Roads Service "approved the Stage 2 report" into this scheme on 21st December, although they offer no further explanation as to what this means or what the report contains. It could refer to the "design options" that were still being planned late last year following the public consultation in May. If so, then this report would contain a range of different options for increasing the capacity of the Sydenham Bypass and improving the junctions along it. This would likely result in a second public consultation and eventually a "preferred option". It will hopefully be published in due course.
2 Nov 2009: Over the past year work has gone on the background. In their report to Belfast City Council last week, Roads Service made a statement of progress. It doesn't give any details, but at least confirms that work is ongoing: "Preliminary work is continuing on a strategic road proposal to widen a 2.5km stretch of the A2 Sydenham Bypass. ... Following completion of the initial assessment and consultation processes, the scheme design is being taken forward through consideration of a number of design options. Roads Service is working closely with DOE Planning Service on the provision of a new junction to serve the Titanic Quarter." (The new junction referred to is discussed here.) Note that the Sydenham Bypass will be fifty years old on 23rd November. This is significant because it was the first modern dual-carriageway to be built in Northern Ireland.
24 Nov 2008: Roads Service released a leaflet about the scheme in November 2008. It does not contain anything new, but is a useful summary of the current position on the scheme. The leaflet estimates construction between 2014 and 2018.
16 May 2008: The public consultation was held over the past couple of days. Much of the description above as well as the maps are based on information gleaned at the inquiry. A PDF copy of the leaflet distributed at the event can be download from the Roads Service web site here.
24 Apr 2008: Roads Service kindly responded to my request for information on this scheme. The scheme is currently scheduled for construction between 2013 and 2018 (subject to permission and finance). Roads Service is trying hard to ensure that the scheme proceeds at the same time as the new grade separated junction at the Connswater bridge (see link above) to minimise disruption. The grade separated junction is being progressed by the private sector through a different planning process, so this is not a straightforward task. They also confirmed that there is currently NO plan to extend motorway restrictions from the current M3 further along the Sydenham Bypass, apparently due to the need to provide provision for cyclists and pedestrians. This seems a relatively weak reason, however, since a segregated cycle and footway would not only be safer, but would not prevent motorway restrictions from being applied to the road itself. An initial public consultation is due to take place in May 2008.