Department for Infrastructure refuses to respond to questions on city centre congestion

The Department for Infrastructure has refused to respond to a series of questions from Belfast Live regarding ongoing traffic congestion issues in the city centre.

Earlier this month, in a series on congestion in the city, we asked people who have been impacted by the ongoing congestion what they would do to fix the traffic issues.

We spoke to some of those working in retail, hospitality, and public transport about what we can do to alleviate some of the congestion issues, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

Read more: Translink statement on tackling Belfast's traffic chaos in run up to Christmas

Read more: 'We need to improve moving around Belfast for people - not cars'

It comes just over two months since the phased opening of Belfast Grand Central Station with bus services only, followed by the commencement of rail services in mid-October.

Recent weeks have seen traffic chaos in the city centre, with ongoing work surrounding the new £340 million public transport hub and a major resurfacing scheme of the A2 Sydenham Bypass contributing to serious congestion in the city.

The gridlock has led to Translink advising of delays during the evening rush hour in recent weeks. It has prompted the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to introduce a moratorium on works from late November to early January, ahead of the busy Christmas trading period.

On Friday, November 8, we contacted the Department for Infrastructure with five questions that came up frequently with those we interviewed about city centre congestion issues. Missing our initial response deadline of Monday, November 11, a Department spokesperson confirmed we would receive a response the following day [November 12].

However, this deadline was also missed, with three requests for comment to the DfI press team remaining unanswered over the course of the following week.

Here are the questions we put to the Department for Infrastructure:

• Does the DfI believe an earlier moratorium on roadworks [before 25th November] could help towards slightly freer flowing traffic for the peak festive period?

• What is the latest response from the DfI on the new phase of the Glider [North to South Belfast], and are there further public realm works planned for the city centre to improve the walking experience?

• There have been calls for a temporary road realignment during the 12 month Durham Street closure. A suggestion is traffic exiting the city down Bedford Street and onto Ormeau Ave/Road, instead of Dublin Road, to take pressure off Great Victoria Street, alongside a temporary right turn on Hope Street/Bruce Street. Could we get a response from the DfI on whether such suggestions could be implemented?
  

• There have been calls for late night transport to be rolled out for the full year, as opposed to just at Christmas. What is the latest response from the DfI to these calls?

• What is the direct message from the DfI to encourage more people to 'hop on board' over the coming weeks in a bid to try and help reduce city centre congestion in the run up to Christmas?

Last week, Translink responded to our questions on how traffic issues in the city can be tackled ahead of Christmas, to encourage more people to visit the city centre.

Translink said it recognises the importance of the critical infrastructure projects in roads and utilities currently underway across the city and “continues to work with DfI to find solutions to help ease the congestion and keep people moving around the city.”

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