When the M1 here was built in 1962 there were no junctions between Lisburn (junction 6) and Stockman's Lane in Belfast (junction 2). Clearly some were planned judging by the missing junction numbers and, as Belfast grew ever southwards during the 1970s and 1980s it became increasingly apparent that a new junction was needed as thousands of people were living beside the motorway but with no access to it. In 1988, at a time when money was scarce, east-facing sliproads were added at a cost of £3.8m (in 2002 prices) providing access to and from Belfast at Black's Road near Dunmurry. However, there was no access to and from the west.

This long anticpated scheme, which will complete the junction, was included in the consultation document "Expanding the Strategic Road Improvement Programme". It is clear from the "road protection corridor" currently in force at Black's Road that the new sliproads will simply join Black's Road with further traffic lights, although there may be an additional bridge over the railway line to give access between the Old Golf Course Road and the new west-facing offslip. The photos below show the locations of the two proposed sliproads but an aerial shot from Google Earth gives a good overview of the site. Although the M1 runs almost north-south here we talk of east and west facing sliproads because the M1 in general runs east-west.

The scheme was not in the pipeline at all until July 2006 when the government announced an increase in new road spending for the period to 2015 and even now it still has to pass a consultation before it is given a definite green light. The scheme is much anticipated by the residents of south and west Belfast because currently to go to their area from anywhere west and south of Belfast it is necessary to continue to junction 2 at Stockman's Lane, do a U-turn and come back along the M1.

Photos

M1 junction 3 from the air. Belfast is to the top. Black's Road runs from upper left to bottom right. The large road on the left is the A512 Old Golf Course Road. The existing sliproads are evident at the top with the new ones to be built at the bottom of the picture. [Photo from Google Earth]

Looking south across Black's Road on the eastern side of the M1 in 2006. The M1 is just out of shot to the right. The area of trees ahead is where the proposed onslip will be built. [Photo by Wesley Johnston]

oking south across Black's Road on the western side of the M1 in 2006. The M1 is on the bridge. The area of trees ahead is where the proposed offslip will be built. [Photo by Wesley Johnston]