Massive roadworks on Northern Ireland's busiest road are to be completed six months ahead of schedule, it emerged yesterday.

The construction of the Broadway underpass at Belfast's Westlink is also expected to finish six months early, opening to traffic in August.

The news comes as the Grosvenor Road Junction, which replaces the old congested roundabout, opened to traffic today.

Roads Minister Conor Murphy said progress was faster than anticipated and the completion date for the entire £104m M1/Westlink project has now been pushed forward to February next year.

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Mr Murphy said completion of the Grosvenor Road junction was "yet another important milestone".

"The new slip roads constructed at this junction will greatly improve access to and from Belfast city centre and the Royal Hospital," he said.

"Over the coming months we will see further significant milestones achieved on the M1/Westlink project, with the completion of the Roden Street Footbridge and Stockman's Lane junction."

The Minister added: "I am pleased that work is progressing well at Broadway junction and, later this summer, traffic will be able to travel through the underpass for the first time, some six months ahead of schedule. This is great news for people using Broadway."

(VB)