A new £425,000 cycling scheme connecting Belfast’s Grand Central Station to the northern city centre will begin works on 28 September 2026, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. The project will create a two-way protected cycle lane along Durham Street and College Square North, though motorists face temporary one-way restrictions for nearly six months.
The scheme forms part of the Belfast Cycling Network, a ten-year plan launched in 2022 to transform active travel infrastructure across the city. It will link recent improvements at Grand Central Station—opened in September 2024 as the largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland—to College Street on the northern edge of the city centre.
What the works involve
The Department for Infrastructure will upgrade existing cycling facilities to provide continuous protected infrastructure. To ensure safety during construction, northbound traffic on Durham Street and College Square North will be temporarily restricted to one-way operation.
Motorists will be diverted via Grosvenor Road and College Square East. The Department states it has programmed works to “minimise inconvenience,” but advises road users to allow additional time when travelling through the area.
Key details:
- Start date: 28 September 2026
- Expected completion: Early March 2027 (implied by the six-month duration)
- Cost: £425,000
- Scope: Two-way protected cycle lane connecting Grand Central Station to College Street
- Traffic impact: Temporary one-way closure northbound on Durham Street and College Square North
Minister’s statement
Minister Kimmins said:
“This Belfast Cycling Network scheme further demonstrates my commitment to creating safer, more attractive infrastructure for people who choose to walk, wheel or cycle for many of their shorter everyday journeys.
I would like to thank the public and residents in advance for their cooperation and ask that they comply with all temporary traffic restrictions while these works are being completed.”
Context and delays
This scheme appears connected to proposals first consulted upon in 2018, when the Department examined routes including Grosvenor Road, Durham Street, College Square North and College Street. A £100,000 allocation for “Belfast Cycling Network, Durham Street” was previously announced through the Local Growth Fund, suggesting the final £425,000 budget represents expanded scope or additional funding.
The announcement comes years behind original schedules. The Belfast Cycling Network Delivery Plan 2022–31 promised over 50 individual schemes with an estimated £100 million ten-year budget. However, according to cycling campaigners, just two of sixteen priority schemes had progressed by 2024, with some projects—such as the Limestone Road and Cavehill Road cycle lane—halted after initial work began due to community objections.
The Grand Central Station project itself illustrates these delays. While the station opened in September 2024, associated public realm and active travel works have continued into 2026, with Translink indicating final cycle lanes and pedestrian improvements were still being completed as recently as June 2026.
Details not provided in the announcement
The Department’s announcement leaves several matters unclear:
- Consultation: No information is provided about whether local residents or businesses were consulted before works were scheduled to commence
- Exact completion date: “Early March” is specified without confirming the year—though the six-month duration implies March 2027
- Previous announcements: The relationship between this £425,000 scheme and earlier £100,000 funding allocations has not been explained
- Network progress: No update is given on the overall delivery of the 50-scheme network, now four years into its ten-year timeline
Broader perspective
The investment sits within a challenging context for active travel across Northern Ireland. While the Republic of Ireland has allocated €360 million for walking and cycling in 2026 and Scotland has committed £226 million, Northern Ireland’s active travel funding has faced repeated criticism for insufficient scale and slow delivery.
Campaign group Cycling UK has previously stated that Belfast remains “15-20 years behind Dublin” in active travel infrastructure, with just two miles of segregated cycle lanes featuring concrete protection.
The Department has committed to keeping the public informed of any changes to the works programme. Road users can find updates through TrafficWatchNI or the Department’s social media channels.
Questions for stakeholders:
- How does this scheme’s £425,000 budget compare to original cost projections, and what explains any variation from earlier £100,000 allocations?
- What consultation was undertaken with residents and businesses before scheduling these works?
- Given that only two of sixteen priority schemes had progressed by 2024, what is the realistic timeline for completing the full Belfast Cycling Network?
- How does Northern Ireland’s per-capita active travel investment compare to the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, and what would be required to match their infrastructure delivery?
- What measures will ensure the new protected lane remains free from illegal parking, which campaigners identify as a persistent problem on Belfast’s existing cycle routes?