Commuters, businesses and public transport operators have been crying out for change as congestion is hitting Belfast particularly hard this year - and some Belfast Live readers are calling it the worst they've ever seen the city in our comments section.
Chris Suitor, of Suitor Bros Clothiers and Custom Tailors and Suitor Coffee, is concerned that the traffic woes threaten to undo progress in attracting tourism, hospitality, and big business into the city. He said: "It does cause huge issues with traffic and moving cars and buses and bikes around the city and a habit change.
"That means people can't get into the city so they go somewhere else to some of the satellite towns like Lisburn, Ballymena, Newtownards. And do you know what they're all great towns with great amenities and they've got free parking and there's no red coats chasing you up and down the street trying to give you a parking ticket."
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"Once that habit changes I feel that it could cause a lot of people maybe not to come back to the city because they find what they need outside of Belfast and that for me as a Belfast city business owner is terrible."
Reader Sam66 agrees: "I've been driving through Belfast for 20 years now, this year has been the worst I've seen it. My commute has gone from 20 mins through the city to at least an hour each day. We have a publicly funded traffic watch system which I am signed up to, I get through the conjestion and receive the traffic watch email warning me about it almost an hour later. I travel Ormeau Avenue, Dublin Road daily. The new lanes along the Dublin road have not caused the traffic lights sequence around Bedford Street to be adjusted so Ormeau Avenue just gridlock, spilling back out to Ormeau and Cromac.
"Firstly the bike lane on Dublin Road coupled with bus lane means a road which once could take 3 lanes of traffic can barely handle 1. Same for Victoria Street and Bruce Street, new bus lanes see Bradbury place grind to a halt daily. Drivers have also to play a better part, yellow boxes are no longer being observed as drivers frustrations boil over. Honestly If I could avoid going through Belfast these days I would."
Commenter Chef200 writes: "Chris is just right in what he is saying. It's even driving me to drive to other shopping centres and avoid Belfast city centre the town I love so well. Just hope things do improve around our city centre which we are all entitled to walk and shop in."
Newflash says: "Sydenham could have waited until city centre was finished. City centre needs to suspend all bus lanes." Watsy1965 writes: "Will only get worse with the distraction of the Boyne bridge".
Some say that all of the roadworks are necessary pain for a better future in Belfast. Andrew-b says: "You can walk/cycle/train/bus/taxi/even carpool before you drive. If you can’t be bothered to do one or more of the above, at the very least leave earlier so there is fewer traffic. If not, then deal with the traffic. The world can’t stop spinning so you can have a wee lay in."
Shamrock2024 agrees: "Brilliant comment, do people think progression should not happen because of traffic?"
Have your say! Should roadworks stop if enough people demand it? Or is it necessary pain for a better city in the future? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.
English (United States) ·