New Belfast bus lane to come into operation after Boyne Bridge Place works

A new Boyne Bridge Place bus lane is set to come into operation near Belfast Grand Central Station, with road-marking works scheduled to take place on Monday 28 September.

Motorists travelling through the area are being warned to expect some disruption while the new markings are completed.

A lane closure will be introduced on the southbound carriageway of Boyne Bridge Place, beginning opposite the new bus access road, before continuing onto the eastbound carriageway of Hope Street towards Bruce Street.

TrafficWatchNI says the closure will operate between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Monday.

The work is being carried out to facilitate bus lane markings on behalf of the Transport Hub, with delays of less than five minutes currently anticipated. 

Boyne Bridge Place bus lane works on Monday

The temporary lane closure will allow the final road markings for the new bus lane to be put in place.

Once the work has been completed, the affected section will operate as a bus lane, representing another change to the road network surrounding Belfast Grand Central Station.

Motorists using Boyne Bridge Place, Hope Street and surrounding roads should allow additional time for their journeys and follow temporary traffic-management signs while the work is taking place.

The work comes as significant changes continue to be made to streets surrounding Belfast’s main public transport hub.

Wider changes around Belfast Grand Central Station

The work comes amid a number of road improvement schemes currently taking place across Belfast, including York Street, and a £600,000 resurfacing programme on Tates Avenue.

Public-realm improvements associated with Belfast Grand Central Station have included changes to Boyne Bridge Place, Durham Street, Glengall Street, Hope Street and Great Victoria Street.

Translink says the wider programme has been designed to prioritise active travel, improve pedestrian safety and enhance cycling infrastructure around the station.

Work at Durham Street and Boyne Bridge Place has included new cycle lanes and upgraded pedestrian footways, while further improvements have been carried out across the surrounding area. 

The Boyne Bridge Place bus lane will therefore become part of a substantially altered road network around the new transport hub.

Further road closures this weekend

The bus lane work follows further traffic restrictions around Grand Central Station this weekend.

TrafficWatchNI says Great Victoria Street will be completely closed between Bruce Street and Grosvenor Road from 5pm on Saturday 26 September until 10pm on Sunday 27 September.

The closure is required for resurfacing work at the Great Victoria Street and Glengall Street junction. Diversion routes will be signposted. 

Glengall Street has also been closed to vehicles between Durham Street and Great Victoria Street while drainage and resurfacing works are undertaken.

The road is due to partially reopen on the morning of Monday 28 September — the same day as the Boyne Bridge Place bus lane work. 

Getting to Belfast Grand Central Station

Drop-off and taxi facilities are already operating along Boyne Bridge Place.

Translink says eight spaces are available on the station side of the road, consisting of five general drop-off spaces and three spaces forming a public-hire taxi rank.

Another five spaces are provided on the opposite side of Boyne Bridge Place, including three general spaces and two public-hire taxi spaces.

A maximum waiting time of 10 minutes applies in the dedicated drop-off spaces. Alternative drop-off facilities are also available at Value Car Parks on Grosvenor Road and St Andrew’s Square on Hope Street. 

Translink has published a pedestrian access map showing the station, Boyne Bridge Place and the surrounding pick-up, drop-off and taxi facilities.

View the Belfast Grand Central Station access information and map