Belfast traffic "Just so poor" as pressure builds to sort daily commute
Businesses fear that shoppers will stay away if big traffic issues continue
Belfast businesses fear that shoppers will stay away from the city centre this Christmas if major traffic disruption continues, like that seen last Thursday. The Department for Infrastructure have said that non-essential roadworks will stop over the festive period, but that hasn't stopped Belfast Live readers in our comments section from sharing their own tales of woe, and wondering how Belfast can fix its big traffic problem.
Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI appealed for the return of the six-week moratorium on roadworks on arterial routes in the city centre last week. They say that city centre hospitality and retail businesses may suffer economically during what is traditionally their busiest time of year due to lower footfall caused by traffic congestion.
In a joint statement, Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI's Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts, said: “We have written to the Minister to seek an urgent meeting to discuss bringing back the six-week moratorium on city centre roadworks and the Sydenham Bypass. For weeks now we have seen bad traffic congestion in the city centre associated with the roadworks, but as seen yesterday, one accident can turn bad congestion into a complete standstill.
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“Hospitality Ulster and Retail NI have always urged consumers to make public transport their first option, rather than their last and are supportive of the building of an integrated transport hub in Belfast and of the associated modal shift that goes along with that.
“However right now we are suffering from the worst of both worlds where even public transport is being badly disrupted. If traffic and public transport congestion continues as is and worsens the closer we get to Christmas, people simply won’t come to the city centre."
Reader Jojinglejangle blames drivers: "Too many cars in the city and too many idiotic people driving them who haven't a clue how to drive!"
Commenter Meers thinks that there's too many road restrictions: "There’d be less congestion in the city centre if they closed those wonderful bus lanes we all have to dodge around to get anywhere." Kel45tr1s disagrees: "Nonsense. You'd just end up with extra lanes of gridlocked traffic."
Itiswhatitisaye writes: "The Belfast city infrastructure (and motorway/arterial routes)is not fit for purpose. Too many bus lanes, one way systems, bad timings on traffic lights (lights not staying green long enough), causing buildups/blockages at junctions. Public transport is unreliable. Delays, cancellations and some services are just so poor."
On our Facebook page, Peter Lavery says: "Need to get someone who knows what they're doing with this job. 2 roads in and out of Carrick and they're working on both at the same time. Genius!"
Vanda Rea writes: "Closing a main road (Sandy Row) at the Boyne bridge is just madness, especially when there is no actual work going on at the moment, it’s crazy."
Freddie Tobin wants more controls: "Yellow box cameras are long overdue in Belfast, and more yellow boxes are needed to ensure traffic can move smoothly instead of being blocked while waiting for junctions to clear."
Trisha Reilly has trouble elsewhere: "It's not just the city centre, what about the roadworks along the Shore road that have been going on for ages."
A DfI spokesperson said: “As in previous years there will be an embargo on all non-essential work on key routes into the city between the end of November and beginning of January with works on the Sydenham bypass due to be paused from Monday, 25th November.”
Have your say! What's the "silver bullet" for Belfast's traffic problems? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.