SOUTH Down MP Chris Hazzard has said that he is looking forward to working with the Infrastructure Minister to progress the Ballynahinch Bypass project, which is currently being reviewed.
The Sinn Féin representative was speaking after a recent meeting with John O’Dowd at Stormont, at which “the need to invest in strategic infrastructure projects” to improve the existing transport network in this constituency was discussed.
The Direction Order for the development of the trunk road – it is estimated that it will cost between £35m and £45m – was made by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) in 2021; however, last August, it was not included on a published list of major priority schemes, effectively putting it in stasis. Upon the restoration of the Executive in early February, Mr Hazzard wrote to the new minister asking that he review last summer’s decision to “shelve the Ballynahinch Bypass”.
Later in the month, DfI updated its online overview of the project, confirming that its transport policies and plans – including the bypass – are ‘currently being reviewed and updated’ to align with commitments under the Climate Change (NI) Act 2022’, and that ‘this work will help define what major transport infrastructure projects should be included within any future major roads programme’. ‘Work is ongoing to complete the draft Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland (TSNI) for future public consultation,’ it continued. ‘Once the draft TSNI has been published, the department will be able to review all work to date on the draft Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP), in the context of the TSNI and the carbon target for transport, which has not yet been set. ‘The publication of the prioritised list of major road schemes, that will continue to be progressed, explains that development work on the Ballynahinch Bypass is now paused. ‘A decision to proceed to procurement will be considered following confirmation of the RSTNTP.’
Welcoming this review, Mr Hazzard said that he had been encouraged by the ministerial meeting, and that it was “pleasing to hear Minister O’Dowd reiterate that he is aware of the need to reduce journey times and improve road safety in the South Down area, including the A24 at Ballynahinch”. “Investment in infrastructure projects like the proposed Ballynahinch Bypass would not only create jobs and help stimulate increased economic activity in the local area, but it would undoubtedly also boost innovation and help improve the connectivity of South Down to the wider Belfast and Dublin corridor,” stated the MP.
“With confirmation recently that Stormont has been underfunded for quite some time, it is vitally important now that the British Government looks to address this shortfall in capital funding and allows much-needed investment in our public services, including transformative infrastructure schemes, such as the Ballynahinch Bypass. “I look forward to working with Minister O’Dowd to advance this scheme, and hope that the review of this decision will see this vital infrastructure project get moving again and the necessary funding secured to finally deliver the Ballynahinch Bypass.”