15 years ago today the 20 km A4 dual-carriageway from #Dungannon to #Ballygawley fully opened to traffic. Official opening ceremony took place on 1 Dec. www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a4dual...

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: A45 Creenagh Bridge realignment #Coalisland; M2/M3/A12 York Street Interchange #Belfast; N15/N13 #Ballybofey #Stranorlar Bypass #Donegal: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

The Department for Infrastructure has announced plans that could see the Kilrea Bridge reopen to cars and light vehicles before Christmas. Read more here: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/kilrea-...

Great aerial footage of the new box culvert Creenagh Bridge under construction on the A45 in Coalisland www.facebook.com/100002166420... Further info on the project here: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads//a45cr...

The Department for Infrastructure has confirmed that a scheme to repair the damage to the Kilrea Bridge will commence on Monday 10 November. Read more here: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/kilrea-...

15 years ago today saw the official opening of the direct link between the M2 and the A26 at Larne Road, Ballymena, using bridges that had been built for the unfinished M2 extension to Antrim since 1969. Also home to Northern Ireland’s largest roundabout. www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a26-m2...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The bridge is very old and narrow. The collapse is on a retaining wall on the bridge approach rather than the bridge itself. Hopefully DFI will be able to find a way to mako it safe asap as it's a very disruptive closure.

The failure of a wall at an historic bridge, deemed to be at “immediate risk of collapse”, could have long-term implications for the future use of the entire bridge, officials have said.

Brick-walled electrical substation on Little Patrick Street, Belfast seen in 2002 when it was brand new, and in 2023, when it has suffered from just over 20 years of graffiti. Note also the much higher skyline behind.

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: A45 Creenagh Bridge realignment #Coalisland added; Movilla Rd/Donaghadee Rd/Bangor Rd Link #Newtownards; M1/A3 Knockmore Link, #Lisburn: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

Non-answer from the @deptinfra.bsky.social Minister. The question doesn't ask for any commentary on the judgement, just whether any projects have been paused in light of it. This is a question with obvious public interest, especially since the A4 Enniskillen Bypass is now clearly delayed.

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: A1 junctions phase 2; A24 #Ballynahinch Bypass; A1-A2 #Newry Southern Relief Road; A4 #Enniskillen Bypass; A5 dualling #Ballygawley to #Omagh, #Strabane, #Derry; A29 #Cookstown Bypass: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

"You’ll have to bear with me for this one. I’m approaching it in a roundabout sort of way."

How 16 years of tree growth can transform a view – A21 Comber Bypass in 2007 and 2023.

The pre-Christmas roadworks embargo in Belfast City Centre is to be brought forward by two weeks to help keep traffic moving as the festive season approaches, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. Read more here: infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/kimmins...

Long-awaited first draft of the Regional Strategic Transport Plan (which will determine road policy for next 10 years+) should be with us in six months or so. DFI: "We anticipate the draft RSTP will be ready for public consultation in Spring 2026".

Safety concerns have been raised over a sealed fire exit in Belfast City Hospital’s multi-storey car park.

Fires in multi store car parks are rare, but when they do happen they can spread rapidly. So I’m concerned about the fire escape route in the one at Belfast City Hospital. This isn’t nitpicking - it’s a potential death trap.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... When I zoom in on this photo and see where this skip was positioned, it’s questionable to say the least.

Scathing Audit Office report raps DfI for unilaterally reclassifying how it spends cash encouraging more people out of their cars, warning it is now in serious danger of missing legal targets

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is encouraging the community in Cookstown to have their say on the wider social value benefits they would like to see delivered as part of the A29 Cookstown Bypass scheme. Read more here: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/cooksto... @midulsterdc.bsky.social

DFI update today: "The road will remain closed to traffic for several weeks while the Department arranges for a temporary solution to be implemented. Once these works are complete the road will be reopened while a permanent solution is developed."

Northern Ireland Roads site updated: A1 junctions phase 2; Lagan footbridge #Belfast; A6 dualling #Drumahoe-#Maydown; M2/M3/Westlink York Street Interchange: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/closure... This is going to be very disruptive, as it's a 14 mile round trip to the nearest bridge in either direction.

Happy birthday M5 which opened on this day in 1980. Originally intended to go to Carrickfergus the stub that exists was approved only to complete the Greencastle interchange which had opened in 1973 with 4 redundant lanes.

At last! x.com/derryjournal...

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: B48 Gortin Road widening #Omagh added; A5 dualling; Narrow Water Bridge #Warrenpoint #Carlingford: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

Happy 50th birthday to the final section of the M2 to be built - Sandyknowes to Templepatrick - which opened on this day in 1975.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... "if you know you're going to resurface the road two or three months later, why would you do it?" someone asks. Prob because you DON'T know. Resurfacing often relies on the in-year monitoring rounds, so you may not have plans for even a month ahead.

Northern Ireland Road Site updated: A5 dualling #Derry-#Strabane-#Omagh-#Ballygawley-#Aughhacloy. Narrow Water Bridge #Warrenpoint. www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

The M3 Lagan bridge will be closed westbound this week from Friday at 9pm until Monday at 6am for a major safety maintenance scheme. Watch our video to learn more about the work and why it is essential to close the bridge. @niroads.bsky.social

The M3 Lagan bridge will be closed westbound for essential maintenance this weekend from Friday 15 August at 9pm until Monday 18 August at 6am. During this time the M3 will be closed from Bridge End to M2 Foreshore. @nidirect.gov.uk

The M3 Lagan bridge will remain open this weekend. The next closure will be the westbound carriageway from 9pm Friday 15 August to Monday 18 August. @niroads.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... DFI, as expected, to appeal the judgement quashing the A5 project six weeks ago. The Minister has not yet said on what basis the legal arguments may take. I outlined my thoughts here a couple of weeks ago: wesleyjohnston.wordpress.com/2025/07/21/k...

The M3 Lagan bridge will be closed eastbound this week from Friday at 9pm until Monday at 6am for a major maintenance scheme. Watch our video to learn more about the work and why it is essential to close the bridge. @niroads.bsky.social

A new Toucan crossing on the Stranmillis Embankment is now operational. The crossing is part of recent active travel improvements along the embankment and will provide safer pedestrian and cyclist access to QUB PEC, Botanic Gardens and beyond. @niroads.bsky.social

Happy birthday to the “new” A1 Newry Bypass which opened to traffic 15 years ago on this day, in 2010. It was largely built to full motorway standard, though has an A number. www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a1beec...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Bit of a damned-if-you-damned-if-you-don't situation here. We desperately need upgraded water infrastructure and road maintenance, but we also need our roads for travel. Very hard to find a good time to do it. Summer is usually the best time.

New blog! Key Consequences of the A5 Legal Challenge: wesleyjohnston.wordpress.com/2025/07/21/k... ALSO Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: Narrow Water Bridge #Warrenpoint: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... There are several similarities between HS2 and the A5 scheme. One is that both started as set solutions and worked back from there. Another is the huge challenge in the U.K. of building infrastructure that requires Vesting of property. Instructive article.

www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/defaul... This is a minor statutory order abandoning a tiny area of road, but it also illustrates how convoluted the NI/ROI border is in places (purple line). There's a tiny triangle of the N1 in NI here, but AFAIK it's been mutually agreed that ROI maintains it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Could Shetland replicate the Faroe Islands with undersea tunnels?

I asked ChatGPT to output some road schemes built before 2000. But, being a language model, it just made up nonsense rather than giving actual schemes. Some of these are bizarre; some sound actually pretty good; some do exist but were built in different eras! 😂

Civil servants working under the direction and control of a Sinn Fein minister put an extraordinary argument before the High Court which exposes how for years Stormont hasn't been - and still isn't - remotely interested in protecting the environment.

I am not a lawyer, but given the nature of the two grounds on which the A5 failed, I don't think an appeal has a very high chance of success. But given the work that is now required due to the ruling, it may be worth their while trying. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: A4 #Enniskillen Bypass; A1 junctions Phase 2; Narrow Water Bridge #Warrenpoint; A32 upgrade at Cornamuck #Dromore; Bangor Rd/Doanghadee Rd/Movilla Rd Link #Newtownards: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

This is the seventh tragedy on the A2 Portaferry Road near Newtownards in ten years. This road consistently claims more lives than average. Scope for some interventions, for example a reduced speed limit to render crashes less severe or likely? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Honoured to appear in the Sold As Seen podcast from twitter.com/rmsmotoring this month, catting with Andy Cooper and colleagues about all things Northern Ireland Roads! rmsmotoring.com/sold-as-seen... #rmsmotoring #SoldAsSeen

The @deptinfra has overhauled their web site and now has a more up-to-date list of current and future road schemes listed here: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/major...

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated – my thoughts on the A5 ruling: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a5omag...