Durham Street: Translink statement on reopening date for key Belfast city centre travel route

A full closure came into force last October for a period of up to 12 months

Translink says a reopening date for a key route in Belfast city centre that’s been closed for almost a year and due to reopen within weeks will be confirmed soon.

A full closure of Durham Street came into force last October for a period of up to 12 months to allow the dismantling of the Boyne Bridge as part of works around the new Belfast Grand Central Station.

Northern Ireland’s £340m public transport hub opened to the public last September but a year-long project is still underway to redevelop the public realm space around the new bus and rail station. It’s expected that Grand Central Station and the wider Weaver’s Cross development will be completed by the end of 2025.

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Durham Street in the Sandy Row area of Belfast, the road on which the bridge sits, is expected to reopen in the coming weeks.

The bridge, built in 1936 but with origins dating back to the 17th century at the time of King William III, was closed in October 2024 and work to remove it began the following month. There were protests against its demolition, as well as calls for local businesses to be compensated for a reduced footfall.

When asked for an update on when one of the main travel routes in and out of Belfast city centre will reopen, a spokesperson for Translink said: “Work on the Public Realm scheme around Belfast Grand Central Station is progressing well and we aim to be in a position to confirm a reopening date for Durham Street soon.”

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