Major Belfast traffic change starts Monday as Durham Street becomes temporarily one-way northbound
Work on a £425,000 protected cycle route begins on 28 September, bringing a temporary northbound closure on Durham Street and College Square North.
Drivers heading through central Belfast face a significant traffic change from Monday 28 September as work begins on a new protected cycle route along Durham Street and College Square North.
The Department for Infrastructure says a temporary one-way closure will operate for northbound traffic on Durham Street and College Square North for the duration of the scheme.
A signed diversion will direct motorists via Grosvenor Road and College Square East.
What is being built?
The £425,000 scheme forms part of the Belfast Cycling Network and will upgrade the existing cycling facilities to create a two-way protected cycle lane.
DfI says the route will connect active-travel improvements delivered around Belfast Grand Central Station with the northern side of the city centre at College Street.
How long will the traffic changes last?
The Department says the works are expected to be completed by early March, although infrastructure programmes can change because of weather, site conditions or construction issues.
That means this is not a one-day or one-weekend closure. Drivers who regularly use Durham Street should plan for a longer-term change in how northbound traffic moves through the area.
What is the diversion?
DfI says northbound traffic will be diverted via Grosvenor Road and College Square East.
Drivers should follow the temporary signed route rather than relying only on a sat-nav, particularly during the first days of the change when mapping services may not yet reflect every temporary restriction correctly.
Why this is bigger than a normal resurfacing job
PureCar normally avoids turning every local resurfacing scheme into a motoring story. This one is more relevant because it alters the direction of traffic on a central Belfast corridor for an extended period and sits beside the Grand Central Station area, where drivers have already had to adapt to major traffic changes.
Commuters, taxis, delivery drivers and people heading to city-centre parking are all more likely to feel the effect than they would from a short rural lane closure.
Allow extra time at the start
DfI has asked road users to comply with temporary signs and allow additional time.
The first working days of a new traffic arrangement can be the most difficult because regular commuters are still learning the diversion and drivers may make late lane changes when they realise their usual route is unavailable.
If you do not need to travel through the immediate area, choosing an alternative approach to the city centre may be easier than joining the diversion at the final junction.
What drivers should check before travelling
- Whether your normal route uses Durham Street or College Square North northbound.
- Current Trafficwatch NI information before peak-time journeys.
- Your chosen city-centre car park's recommended approach route.
- Any further temporary changes around Grand Central Station.
Do not assume the return journey will follow exactly the same route as the outward journey because the restriction specifically affects northbound traffic.
Source
Department for Infrastructure announcement published 25 September 2026. Works are scheduled to begin on Monday 28 September.
