A £200,000 road safety improvement scheme on a major route close to Hillsborough will begin on Monday 04 March.

The work will see the A1 dual carriageway upgraded at the Dromore Bypass, near the County Down town, to improve safety for motorists.

Three sections of central reserve safety barrier will be placed on a stretch of road spanning 1.3 kilometres.

It is welcome news for the 40,000 drivers who use the road each day, and will take five weeks to complete.

In advance of the main A1 junctions improvement scheme, the Department has already closed up a number of gaps in the central reservation and installed new barriers at three locations between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland over the last two years, totalling approximately five kilometres.

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The temporary traffic management required to carry out the works safely will consist of speed restrictions and lane closures adjacent to the central median in both the northbound and southbound carriageways. To minimise disruption to motorists, the lane closures are scheduled for overnight, between 8.00 pm and 6.00 am every night including weekends from Monday 04 March until Wednesday 03 April 2019, when the work should be finished.

The speed restrictions will apply at all times for the safety of road users.

The Department for Infrastructure has programmed the work and traffic management arrangements to minimise any inconvenience, however, drivers should expect some delays and are advised to leave additional time when planning any journeys.

Completion on time is dependent on favourable weather conditions.

(JG/MH)