Belfast Roadworks To Cease For Christmas

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy has announced an embargo on Belfast road works in a bid to assist shoppers and traders during the run-up to Christmas.

The works will cease from 26 November until after Christmas, with the exception of emergency works.

The announcement comes as part of a package of measures to encourage high-street spending during the holidays.

The package will include expanded 'Park and Ride' services for Belfast, Lisburn, Newry and L’Derry during late night shopping and all day on Saturday for 5 weeks from Monday 19 November to Saturday 22 December.

The services will be free after 16:30 weekdays and all day on Saturdays. This means shoppers will be provided with free parking and bus travel during the allocated time for five weeks.

Translink’s promotional £2 day ticket for unlimited travel on Metro services in Belfast after 09:30 on Saturdays will be extended until 5 January 2013.

From 19 November the majority of train services operating between Belfast and Coleraine will be increased from 3-carriage to 6-carriage services.

From Saturday 3 December an additional late night train will operate from Great Victoria Street Station to Coleraine, departing Belfast at 22:08, until 22 December.

Danny Kennedy said: "I am aware that there have been calls for free on-street parking in the lead up to Christmas but in previous years we have seen that this led to an increase in congestion and created parking safety issues. The measures developed by my Department, in conjunction with Translink, provide better choice and value for all road users which will lead to more people using our city centres for Christmas shopping, providing a vital boost for our traders.

"These measures are about encouraging people to come into their city centres and helping their money go further this Christmas."

(IT/GK)