Bid to begin work at Ballynahinch bypass

Bid to begin work at Ballynahinch bypass

5 February 2020

LOCAL politicians are seeking an early meeting with new Stormont infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon to make the case for work to start on Ballynahinch’s proposed £35m bypass.

There was across-the-board political support for a motion seeking a meeting with Ms Mallon and seniors roads engineers at Monday night’s monthly meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

It was tabled by Rowallane councillor Billy Walker who is keen to see work starting on the near two-mile scheme to link the Newcastle and Saintfield roads.

He said the multi-million pound scheme has been shovel ready for some time and is hoping the Department for Infrastructure will allocate funding for the scheme which is expected to take in excess of 18 months to complete. The bypass is the single biggest road scheme ever proposed for the district.

Roads officials have previously insisted that the planned scheme will greatly benefit both strategic and local road users by reducing journey times and improving road safety. In addition, officials are confident that the scheme’s economic assessment demonstrates that the bypass would provide a good economic return.

Designed to alleviate chronic town centre congestion in Ballynahinch and along the main approach roads to the town, major new roundabouts are proposed at the Belfast Road junction with the Saintfield Road and at the Newcastle Road junction with the Downpatrick Road.

Overtaking lanes stretching almost 900 metres are proposed at either end of the bypass where major new roundabouts are to be constructed, with the scheme also including a shared footpath and cycle lane.

Cllr Walker argued that the Newry, Mourne and Down area has missed out on significant roads funding for decades, with many major schemes constructed in other parts of the Province.

“I believe the time has come for this council to demand its fair share of infrastructure funding,” he declared. “I have been a councillor for over 14 years and the bypass issue has been raised during every one of them.

“The government department has now moved to a position with all its ducks in this particular scheme now in a row. The public enquiry has been completed and the only thing delaying the scheme is funding.”

Cllr Walker said he believed that with the Assembly restored and a local minister at the helm of the Department for Infrastructure, the council needs to seek an urgent meeting with Ms Mallon to seek the immediate release of bypass funding to not only alleviate town centre congestion in Ballynahinch, but provide a major boost for the wider South Down area, in particular, tourism.

Slieve Croob councillor, Cathy Mason, described the market town as the “gateway” to the wider South Down area through which all traffic must pass, including HGVs.

“This not only frustrates drivers who are part of the through traffic, but increases tension and danger for those living, shopping and working in the town. The proposed bypass will run round the eastern periphery of the town with a grade-separated junction at the Crossgar Road,” she continued.

“Housing is also being permitted up to the line of the planned new road and includes the potential for a park and ride site. The bypass has been proposed since the 1960s and for decades local community and political representatives from all parties have demanded this new road.”

Cllr Mason said the new infrastructure minister must signal the start of work on the multi-million pound road scheme as soon as possible. 

She said that in 2016, the then Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard announced his decision to proceed with the bypass proposal and instructed officials to continue to prioritise this scheme until completion unless instructed otherwise by a new minister.    

Cllr Mason continued: “With the infrastructure minister now in place following the restoration of Stormont, funding should now be signed off and construction allowed to commence as soon as possible.” 

She said the tender process for construction should begin as soon as possible, suggesting there is no reason why construction cannot commence this time next year, with the scheme complete and open to vehicles by 2023. 

Rowallane councillor Robert Burgess is also keen to see work on the bypass get underway and hopes that the new infrastructure minister will also formally sign off the scheme to upgrade the final section of the A7 between Doran’s Rock and Rowallane Garden in Saintfield.

“The bypass is critically important to the social and economic regeneration of not only Ballynahinch but the wider South Down area,” he said.

Cllr Burgess added: “In addition, the A7 is the main link between Downpatrick and Belfast and while there have been various upgrades, the section between Doran’s Rock and Rowallane Garden is simply not suitable for the huge volume of traffic which uses this busy road. It’s upgrade is also a priority.”