Dickson Welcomes York Street Interchange Update, But Need to Avoid Further Delays

East Antrim MLA, Stewart Dickson, has welcomed an update from the Infrastructure Minister, on the York Street Interchange project. On Monday 27 July, the Minister announced that she is considering how best to proceed and future-proof the project.

Mr Dickson said: “For decades the York Street Interchange has been bottleneck where the M2, M3 and Westlink meet. For commuters from East Antrim into Belfast, view of long tailbacks has been a source of frustration, but with a free-flowing junction, both traffic and freight, could move much more freely between Belfast and the constituency. So it is my hope we can avoid further delays to plans to upgrade the junction.

“However, I understand and agree with the need to ‘future-proof’ the project, to help ensure that environmental concerns can be alleviated and the project is of benefit to all, not just road users.

“To this end, I have also been pressing the Minister, not only on the upgrading of road infrastructure at the York Street Interchange, but also for the inclusion in plans of foundation strengthening below the single track Dargan Rail Viaduct. This will help facilitate the full dualling of the railway between York Gate and Central stations, and increase the frequency and reliability of Larne Line trains and other services using the track.”