Green Light For £50 Million Ballynahinch Bypass

REGIONAL Development Minister Danny Kennedy has announced the approved road line for the A24, Ballynahinch bypass scheme costing £50million, in the Assembly (Wednesday 25^th January)

Following a public consultation and exhibition Roads Service has considered the views of the public and approved the preferred line of the bypass which will include a junction at the B7 Crossgar Road.

The line will run from the junction of the A24 Belfast Road and A21 Saintfield Road, which is north of the town, to the junction of the A24 Drumaness Road and B2 Downpatrick Road, south of the town, a distance of approximately 3.1 km.

Speaking at a debate in the Assembly, the Minister said: "The preferred line for the A24 Ballynahinch bypass has been decided after consideration of comprehensive environmental, engineering and economic assessments as well as comments from the public and subsequent representations, including requests for a junction at B7 Crossgar Road."

Minister Kennedy added: "I met with elected representatives, traders and Council officials in Ballynahinch to see for myself the road network and traffic conditions in the town. These views and the public's comments have been reflected in Roads Service's plans for the new bypass scheme."

The scheme will involve substantial earthworks to traverse the drumlin topography and ground conditions that exist along this route, which includes the floodplain of the Ballynahinch River. Three substantial structures will be required where the route crosses Moss Road, Crossgar Road and the Ballynahinch River.

Traffic modeling for the scheme indicates that a substantial proportion of the traffic passing through the town on the existing A24 Trunk road may be expected to use a new bypass and it would make a significant contribution to the improvement of traffic conditions in the town centre.

He added: "Strategic Road Improvement schemes of the nature and scale of the proposed A24 Ballynahinch bypass can only be provided at considerable cost, which in this case is estimated to be in the range of £40 to £50 million. This level of funding is not available in the current budget period but Roads Service will continue to progress the A24 Ballynahinch bypass scheme, as resources allow, so that it may be ready for construction should finance become available."

Roads Service will develop a Specimen Design, undertaking further more detailed environmental, engineering and economic assessments in preparation for progressing the scheme through the various Statutory Procedures. This will include the preparation and publication of an Environmental Statement and draft Direction Order and Vesting Order which, if there are objections, may require a Public Inquiry to determine if the scheme should go ahead as planned.

SDLP Down District Councillor Anne McAleenan, chair of the Ballynahinch renewal committee, has welcomed the decision by Minister Kennedy giving the green light to the new road line. She said, “I am delighted that the Minister has at last made this decision. It is great to see it in print and we now believe it is going to actually happen. But it is not there yet.

“We have to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment then following this a public consultation will continue, and depending on the response we may be faced with a public inquiry. All of this could take two years. The work has to go out to tender and all of this is quite a slow process.

“The construction industry which has seen very difficult times over the past couple of years will benefit from this major investment in our road infrastructure. Hopefully it will create local jobs and especially for our young people.

“Government needs to be investing in projects like this to help kickstart our economy in Northern Ireland which has badly stalled.”

Sinn Féin South Down MLA Caítriona Ruane has welcomed the publication of the preferred route of the Ballynahinch Bypass.

Speaking after the Assembly debate on the issue of the bypass, Ms. Ruane said, “I welcomed the opportunity to engage with the Minister Danny Kennedy on the Ballynahinch bypass and to reiterate to him the importance of having it completed as soon as possible.

“I was also delighted to hear the Minister state that the proposed route for the bypass has now been published and that it provides value for money while incorporating the highest road safety features.

“This is an important step in the process of working towards a starting date and I will continue to push the Minister to take the process to the next stage and set a commencement date for the project.”

Also, Ballynahinch Sinn Féin Cllr Mickey Coogan added his approval to the political agreement emerging at Stormont necessary to rubber stamp the bypass deal.

He said, "Ballynahinch has waited long enough for a bypass and over the years people have become frustrated at the lack of progress. Under the previous Minister Conor Murphy we received assurances that the only outstanding issue was finance as the case for a bypass had been well made and accepted.

“That being the case I am hopeful that the current Minister will make the necessary funds available and outline a timetable for the schemes commencement.

While acknowledging that Ballynahinch needs “a bypass for the benefit of people who live and do business in the town and for those people who face traffic chaos every morning and evening as they travel through the town” Cllr Coogan added that it is “important to recognise the changes that will occur when we get a bypass, and with this in mind traders and businesses in the town are equipped to meet that change and that we as a town begin to market ourselves as an essential destination.”