£1.25m scheme for Temple

The roundabout will slow traffic down, allow safe access to and egress from the main Carryduff Road from the Saintfield and Lisburn Roads.

It will further create new footpaths and pedestrian islands to aid those crossing the road on foot.

A park and share for 34 vehicles will also be created providing a service for the local community and reducing overall traffic.

MLAs Edwin Poots, Jonathan Craig and Councillor Uel Mackin have welcomed the announcement.

Mr Craig’s father had a business on the road for over thirty years and knows the area well. He has witnessed many incidents over the years.

“Sadly over the years the road and the crossroads in particular have become synonymous with death and injury. For that reason we have been campaigning for years to have this work carried out,” said Mr Craig.

Mr Poots represented the area for many years.

He said: “The crossroads is notorious and extremely difficult to negotiate especially for slower moving vehicles. The process to deliver this has been long and tedious, but I welcome the swift response of the Minister who only assumed the Office less than six months ago.”

Councillor Uel Mackin said: “Getting a start date for this spring is great news. The local community deserve this junction to be made safer and at last that will be the case.”