News Release Page Title

15 November 2004

ROAD WORKS EMBARGO FOR CHRISTMAS PERIOD

Minister of State, John Spellar, MP, announced a Roads Service embargo today on planned road works on major routes into Belfast, Bangor and Lisburn, from 22 November to 3 January, to facilitate Christmas traffic.

The Minister said: "This voluntary arrangement between Roads Service and the utility companies will place a temporary ban on all planned road works on the main routes in Belfast, Bangor and Lisburn, except for works which are unavoidable.

"This should help the travelling public during the run-up to Christmas, which is the busiest traffic period of the year and I would like to thank the utilities, which have all fully co-operated with this initiative."

Joanne Jennings, Belfast City Centre Manager, also welcomed the embargo. She said: "The shoppers and traders of Belfast will greatly benefit from this initiative and I hope it will encourage even more people to travel into the City during the Christmas period."

Notes to Editors:

  1. The Christmas embargo is a voluntary ban on all roadworks on the city centre streets and on the arterial routes into Belfast, Lisburn and Bangor and operates from 22 November 2004 to 3 January 2005.
  2. It is co-ordinated by Roads Service through the DRAUC (Divisional Roads Authority and Utilities Committee).
  3. This is the seventh year of operation.
  4. The purpose of the embargo is to improve traffic conditions during the busiest time of year and to enhance the shopping experience for visitors to main retail areas in the Province.
  5. It has been very successful in previous years and well received by the Chamber of Trade and similar organisations.

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