A leaflet has been produced by the Northern Ireland Roads Service, to provide road transport operators with information on the major works planned for the M1/Westway. Work is due to commence in January next year.

It also explains how to receive up-to-date traffic information by email. Drivers should use the latest traffic information that is available and plan their journey accordingly.

The road improvements will create three continuous traffic lanes on the M1 and Westlink between Black's Road (Jct 3) and Divis Street junctions. The works will involve:

• Widening the M1 and Westlink to provide a continuous dual three-lane road from Stockman's Lane to Divis Street.
• Replacing the bridges at Stockman's Lane junction.
• Constructing a dual three lane underpass at Broadway and partial underpass at Grosvenor Road.
• Modifying the Roden Street / Mulhouse Road signalised junction.
• Introducing bus priority measures between Broadway and Roden Street.
• Constructing a cycleway / footway between Broadway and Grosvenor Road junctions.

Construction work on the M1/Westlink is planned to start in January 2006, following the busy Christmas retail period and is programmed to last approximately three years.

Construction of a major project such as this has the potential to cause significant disruption to traffic throughout Belfast and beyond.

There is little opportunity to provide alternative routes during construction for the 65,000 vehicles that use the Westlink each day, as many of these alternative routes are already congested. Therefore, it will be necessary to accommodate traffic through the works.

Roads Service will continue to liaise with the PSNI, Road Haulage Association, the Port of Belfast and other commercial interests to help reduce the impact of the works.

• Two traffic lanes will be maintained in each direction through the works from 6am-10pm Monday to Saturday and 11am-10pm on Sundays.
• These lanes may be narrower than normal and subject to a reduced speed limit.
• Sections of the M1, Westlink or connecting roads will be closed occasionally.
• Road closures will generally be at night or at weekends.
• Signs advising of road closures will be displayed at least one week in advance of each closure.
• The contractor will be charged for each lane closure in order to limit the number of closures.

In addition Roads Service has:

• Installed additional CCTV cameras to monitor traffic through the works and on adjoining roads.
• Extended the Urban Traffic Control area where the traffic signals are controlled centrally by Traffic Information and Control Centre.
• Signed Alternative Routes will be available for traffic with destinations beyond Belfast (see attached map).
• Variable message signs positioned at key junctions will inform drivers of current traffic conditions through the road works and help them to make an informed choice about their route.

For more information go to www.roadsni.gov.uk/scheme/Westlink/index.htm