A NEW bridge which will provide buses with access from the Westlink to the city centre is beginning to take shape.
On completion, the bridge will cross over newly realigned railway lines, to allow buses from Broadway roundabout, near the Westlink, access to the new facilities at Belfast Grand Central Station.
The bridge has a span of 51 metres, longer than an Olympic-size swimming pool, and once completed will weigh 480 tonnes, equivalent to 80 adult African elephants or 40 double decker buses.
It is a key aspect of Translink’s Belfast Grand Central Station project, which aims to provide an integrated transport hub to enhance local and international connectivity with bus, coach, and rail links across Northern Ireland and beyond.
Conor McLornan from Translink said it is "really exciting to see significant progress on this integral element" of the project.
"Commencing this element of the project in advance of the station build has enabled our work on site to be more efficient," he said.
"Completion of this package of work will enable us to deliver our next stage of bus and rail infrastructure, future proofing our facilities, enhancing passenger experiences, creating smarter sustainable transport options and ensuring that Translink continues to be first choice for travel, for today, for tomorrow.
"To enhance sustainability, the busway bridge is fabricated from weathering steel with a distinctive rust-like appearance.
"This will prevent corrosion, meaning the bridge will not require painting while achieving a 120-year design life with only nominal maintenance."
