Plans to widen Hillhall Road move a step closer

The Vesting Order is for land at 174-184 Hillhall Road, which will be used to widen a stretch of the carriageway.

The Hillhall Road has become synonymous with traffic accidents over the years and local residents and motorists have long campaigned for improvements to the road, which was originally a country road but has now become a main route between Lisburn and Belfast.

Lagan Valley MLA Jonathan Craig has welcomed the plans.

“This has always been a very busy and dangerous stretch of road,” said Mr Craig.

“Any work that can be done to improve safety for motorists is to be welcomed.

“More work still needs to be done to further improve the road, however this is a step in the right direction.”

A copy of the vesting order and related map can be inspected at the Roads Service offices at Hydebank, 4 Hospital Road, Belfast and at Lisburn City Council headquarters at the Civic Centre in Lisburn.

The Roads Service have also begun work to repair the Hillhall Road Bridge.

To facilitate the work the M1 motorway eastbound onslip at the Saintfield Road will be closed overnight. The work is expected to be completed by Saturday November 12.

The onslip will be closed each night from 11pm until 6am and until 7am on Saturdays. An alternative route will be via Saintfield Road, Sloan Street, Queens Road, Seymour Street, Belfast Road, Queensway, McKinstry Road, Creighton Road, Old Golf Course Road and Blacks Road.