A major maintenance scheme on the M3 Lagan Bridge in Belfast is to begin on Friday 14 August, the Department for Infrastructure has announced.
The work is the third phase of bridge bearing replacements, following earlier phases in 2024 and 2025. The department said 18 bearings have been replaced so far, with six more now planned on the on and off slip roads on the M3 Bridge.
The latest phase is scheduled over three weekends: Friday 14 to Monday 17 August, Friday 21 to Monday 24 August, and Friday 28 to Monday 31 August. Various access restrictions will apply to M3 slip roads during the works.
The first weekend closure will affect the westbound carriageway from 9pm on Friday 14 August until 6am on Monday 17 August. The M3 Middlepath Street westbound on-slip road will be closed, with city centre traffic diverted via Middlepath Street, Bridge End, Ann Street, Victoria Street, Dunbar Link, Great Patrick Street and York Street.
During that weekend, lanes one and two will also be closed westbound, with no access to or from the M3 Nelson Street westbound off-slip road towards the A12 Westlink. Traffic travelling from the Sydenham bypass towards the Westlink, north Belfast or west Belfast will be unable to exit until M2 Junction 1 at Fortwilliam Roundabout, before being redirected southbound towards Nelson Street.
The second weekend will affect the eastbound carriageway from 9pm on Friday 21 August until 6am on Monday 24 August, when the M3 Nelson Street eastbound on-slip will be closed. The third weekend repeats westbound restrictions from Friday 28 August until 6am on Monday 31 August.