Northern Ireland

Decision on stalled York Street Interchange due ‘in coming weeks'

Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has said that a decision on the York Street Interchange is due "in coming weeks". Picture by Hugh Russell
Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has said that a decision on the York Street Interchange is due "in coming weeks". Picture by Hugh Russell Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard has said that a decision on the York Street Interchange is due "in coming weeks". Picture by Hugh Russell

A DECISION on the future of a major Belfast road project is due "in the coming weeks".

Infrastructure minister Chris Hazzard said last month that plans for the York Street Interchange were being put on hold due to uncertainty over EU funding in the wake of Brexit.

However, in a response to a written question from East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson, the Sinn Fein minister has said that a decision on the status of the £165m scheme will be made soon.

He also said he will release a report from a public inquiry into the plans, which was held in Belfast last November.

Mr Hazzard said: "The York Street Interchange scheme remains one of my priorities given its location at the confluence of our busiest roads, the M1/Westlink, M2 and M3.

"I can confirm that I intend to make a decision on the status of the scheme and release the inspectors' report from the public inquiry in the coming weeks."

The project has cost almost £750,000 every year since 2007, adding up to a total bill of £7.4m.