Author | Lightnews

Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 5d

Yes remember the pillar bases before the work - they were extremely narrow ar the base. Presumably that was the hinge. An engineer said they were encased because they’d potentially collapse the whole bridge in an impact by a modern HGV.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 5d

Do explain!

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 5d

15 years ago today saw the official opening of the direct link between the M2 and the A26 at Larne Road, Ballymena, using bridges that had been built for the unfinished M2 extension to Antrim since 1969. Also home to Northern Ireland’s largest roundabout. www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a26-m2...

A26 Ballee Road East to M2 link - Northern Ireland Roads

www.wesleyjohnston.com

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 5d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The bridge is very old and narrow. The collapse is on a retaining wall on the bridge approach rather than the bridge itself. Hopefully DFI will be able to find a way to mako it safe asap as it's a very disruptive closure.

Kilrea Bridge: 'Businesses feel like they've been hung out to dry' - shop owner

The Kilrea Bridge has been closed since last month after extensive cracking was discovered in a retaining wall.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Wesley Johnston

Belfast Telegraph @belfasttelegraph.co.uk · 6d

The failure of a wall at an historic bridge, deemed to be at “immediate risk of collapse”, could have long-term implications for the future use of the entire bridge, officials have said.

Collapse of wall could threaten long-term future of historic NI bridge

The failure of a wall at an historic bridge, deemed to be at “immediate risk of collapse”, could have long-term implications for the future use of the entire bridge, officials have said.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 8d

Brick-walled electrical substation on Little Patrick Street, Belfast seen in 2002 when it was brand new, and in 2023, when it has suffered from just over 20 years of graffiti. Note also the much higher skyline behind.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 11d

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: A45 Creenagh Bridge realignment #Coalisland added; Movilla Rd/Donaghadee Rd/Bangor Rd Link #Newtownards; M1/A3 Knockmore Link, #Lisburn: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 13d

Non-answer from the @deptinfra.bsky.social Minister. The question doesn't ask for any commentary on the judgement, just whether any projects have been paused in light of it. This is a question with obvious public interest, especially since the A4 Enniskillen Bypass is now clearly delayed.

Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 13d

It’s valid because the post is in English and the meaning of words is language-specific. We don’t want people thinking a second attack has just occurred when we’re actually talking about the previous one.

Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 14d

For info, when you write “the night of 19th”, in the English speaking world that means the night of 19-20th. If it happened last night (the night that was more than 12 hours ago) you’d call that the night of 18th.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 18d

Absolutely. I’d say Putin would hand over Bashir in a heartbeat if that was the offer.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 25d

Never thought I’d be harking back to the days of GW Bush.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 25d

Northern Ireland Roads Site updated: A1 junctions phase 2; A24 #Ballynahinch Bypass; A1-A2 #Newry Southern Relief Road; A4 #Enniskillen Bypass; A5 dualling #Ballygawley to #Omagh, #Strabane, #Derry; A29 #Cookstown Bypass: www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads

Northern Ireland Roads Site - current and future new road schemes

www.wesleyjohnston.com

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Reposted by Wesley Johnston

Belfast Telegraph @belfasttelegraph.co.uk · 25d

"You’ll have to bear with me for this one. I’m approaching it in a roundabout sort of way."

My daily battle with infamous Northern Ireland roundabout

You’ll have to bear with me for this one. I’m approaching it in a roundabout sort of way.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 26d

Hence Bridge Street, off High Street, named because it led to a bridge over the Farset.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · 27d

How 16 years of tree growth can transform a view – A21 Comber Bypass in 2007 and 2023.

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Reposted by Wesley Johnston

Department for Infrastructure @infrastructure-ni.gov.uk · 27d

The pre-Christmas roadworks embargo in Belfast City Centre is to be brought forward by two weeks to help keep traffic moving as the festive season approaches, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced.

Read more here: infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/kimmins...

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · Oct 3

Long-awaited first draft of the Regional Strategic Transport Plan (which will determine road policy for next 10 years+) should be with us in six months or so. DFI: "We anticipate the draft RSTP will be ready for public consultation in Spring 2026".

Reposted by Wesley Johnston

Belfast Telegraph @belfasttelegraph.co.uk · Oct 3

Safety concerns have been raised over a sealed fire exit in Belfast City Hospital’s multi-storey car park.

‘It is a potential tragedy’: Concern over blocked fire exit in Belfast hospital’s multi-storey car park

Safety concerns have been raised over a sealed fire exit in Belfast City Hospital’s multi-storey car park.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · Oct 1

Fires in multi store car parks are rare, but when they do happen they can spread rapidly. So I’m concerned about the fire escape route in the one at Belfast City Hospital. This isn’t nitpicking - it’s a potential death trap.

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · Sep 30

@showmeasign.online

Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · Sep 30

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
When I zoom in on this photo and see where this skip was positioned, it’s questionable to say the least.

Belfast: Man dies following motorcycle crash on Castlereagh Road

The man was involved in a motorcycle collision on Sunday night and was taken to hospital.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Wesley Johnston

Belfast Telegraph @belfasttelegraph.co.uk · Sep 30

Scathing Audit Office report raps DfI for unilaterally reclassifying how it spends cash encouraging more people out of their cars, warning it is now in serious danger of missing legal targets

Watchdog lambasts Stormont for ongoing failures in its strategy to boost active travel

Stormont has failed lamentably in meeting its own targets to encourage people out of cars, can’t prove it has spent public money properly — and is not even on course to be lawful, an Audit Office repo...

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Wesley Johnston

Department for Infrastructure @infrastructure-ni.gov.uk · Sep 29

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is encouraging the community in Cookstown to have their say on the wider social value benefits they would like to see delivered as part of the A29 Cookstown Bypass scheme.

Read more here: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/cooksto...

@midulsterdc.bsky.social

Graphic with the words have you say on the wider benefits of the Cookstown bypass

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Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · Sep 22

DFI update today: "The road will remain closed to traffic for several weeks while the Department arranges for a temporary solution to be implemented. Once these works are complete the road will be reopened while a permanent solution is developed."

Wesley Johnston @niroads.bsky.social · Sep 21

www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/news/closure... This is going to be very disruptive, as it's a 14 mile round trip to the nearest bridge in either direction.