It comes after the huge congestion witnessed in the run up to Christmas 2024
Stormont’s Infrastructure Minister has revealed plans to try to keep Belfast moving in the run-up to the busy festive period.
It comes after the huge congestion witnessed in the run up to Christmas 2024 as people tried to shop and socialise in Belfast over the festive season. It led to major concerns from those working in retail, hospitality, and public transport about the impact of the traffic chaos on their festive trade.
The weeks leading up to Christ saw traffic chaos in the city centre, amid ongoing work surrounding the new Belfast Grand Central Station and a major resurfacing scheme of the A2 Sydenham Bypass contributing to serious traffic congestion in the city.
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The gridlock led to Translink advising of delays during the evening rush hour and prompted the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to introduce a moratorium on works from late November 2024 to early January 2025, ahead of the busy Christmas trading period.
Durham Street has been fully closed from Grosvenor Road to Hope Street since October 12, 2024 for up to 12 months. The works included dismantling the 1936 Durham Street/Boyne Bridge, which took place in February 2025, to finish phase one of public realm works. The demolition has provoked regular protest from local residents and objections from the Orange Order.
Last week, Belfast city councillors described a plan for five lanes of traffic, an increase of two lanes, on Durham Street as “lunacy”, as they heard an update on works associated with Grand Central Station.
Further disruptions to traffic and travel are to be imposed on and around Great Victoria Street early next year as part of phase two public realm works for the station. From January to April 2026, there will be kerb alignment outside the Europa and Northern Mall, work on the Amelia Street entrance, and new paving laid down in front of the Grand Opera House and the Fitzwilliam Hotel.
A side entrance to Grand Central Station is not a designated set-down and pick-up spot, however, cars continue to use it to drop off or collect passengers, blocking a busy lane of traffic. Once Durham Street reopens, access to the station is expected to improve, with plans for a dedicated drop-off area and taxi space.
As public realm work continues around the station, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has outlined some of the traffic measures which will be introduced to keep Belfast moving particularly in the run-up to the busy festive period.
Ms Kimmins made the announcement on Monday as she joined Translink staff to celebrate the first year since the opening of Grand Central Station.
The measures include:
• Aiming to re-open Durham Street to two-way traffic by the end of November.
• Extending the hours of operation of existing bus lanes on a number of southern routes to the city, including Ormeau Road and Saintfield Road, to operate in both directions during both the AM and PM peak.
• Improved monitoring through implementation of new smart sensor technology that will provide real-time data at key locations across the city to enable improved responsive, agile traffic management and evidence-based decision-making.
• The current configuration of the Great Victoria Street / Grosvenor Road / Howard Street junction to safely and efficiently accommodate increased pedestrian volumes will be retained, as will the temporary bus lanes on: Great Victoria Street, Howard Street, Bruce Street, Dublin Road and North Street.
Following the recent consultation, the current arrangements which allow additional taxis classes to use certain bus lanes in Bruce Street, Dublin Road, Great Victoria Street and Shaftesbury Square will also continue.
A communications strategy to inform the public of these measures and promote alternatives to private car use – such as public transport, walking, cycling, and Park & Ride, has been developed.
Minister Kimmins said: These measures, which reflect strategic priorities and local realities, have been brought forward following engagement with interested parties, including Belfast Chamber, Business Improvement Districts, Translink, Hospitality Ulster, Belfast Night Czar, Retail NI, Belfast City Council and Visit Belfast.
“Our shared goal is to ensure Belfast City Centre remains a welcoming, accessible, and thriving destination throughout the festive period and beyond. We want people to come into the city, enjoy what it has to offer, and do so with ease and confidence.
“We will be also retaining the temporary bus lanes that we introduced last Autumn. These bus lanes on Great Victoria Street, Howard Street, Bruce Street, Dublin Road, and North Street have proven effective in helping insulate buses from the worst effects of general traffic congestion at these locations. We will bring in the pre-Christmas embargo which will suspend all non-essential roadworks on key routes in Belfast City Centre and surrounding radial corridor. I am currently considering options on when the embargo can begin.”
The Minister added: “Belfast is a busy, thriving city and the lead-up to Christmas is a busy time so, just like all other major cities, we can expect there to be more traffic than usual at this time – there would be something wrong if there wasn’t.
“While we can introduce practical actions to help ease traffic build-up, we can all play a part by thinking about when to travel and how. Avoid peak times if you can and think about leaving the car at home and use public transport and park and ride facilities, if they are available to you.”
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