Preparations are underway for an essential £400,000 maintenance project on Belfast’s M3 Lagan Bridge, set to begin on Friday, August 1, 2025. This key infrastructure, which supports over 90,000 vehicles daily, will undergo critical repairs across two weekends in August, prompting significant closures and traffic disruptions.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has detailed that the maintenance work involves replacing eight bridge bearings, following a previous phase last summer in which ten bearings were replaced at a cost of £700,000. These specialist repairs are crucial to maintain the structural integrity of the bridge and to ensure it can safely manage current and future traffic demands on this vital route.
The first weekend closure will commence at 9pm on Friday, August 1, and will last until 6am on Monday, August 4. During this period, the eastbound carriageway of the M3 will be closed between M2 Foreshore and Dee Street. Motorists will experience no access to the bridge from the M2, with all traffic required to exit via the Nelson Street Off Slip. Additionally, there will be no access to the M3 bridge from Nelson Street on-slip during this time.
The second weekend closure is scheduled from 9pm on Friday, August 15, until 6am on Monday, August 18. This closure affects the westbound carriageway from Bridge End to M2 Foreshore. Access to the bridge from the A2 Sydenham Bypass will be unavailable, with all traffic diverted at the Bridge End Flyover. Access from Middlepath Street on-slip will also be closed during this phase.
Minister for Infrastructure Liz Kimmins emphasized the importance of the bridge, stating, “The M3 bridge is a key structure which carries over 90,000 vehicles and these improvement works are essential to ensure that the structure remains in a sound condition to manage current and future traffic levels along this key route.”
She acknowledged the inconvenience these closures may cause but stressed the long-term benefits, adding, “These are specialist works which I recognise may cause some disruption to traffic, however this short term inconvenience will help ensure the safety of the travelling public and avoid more disruptive works to the bridge in the long term.” The minister also expressed gratitude towards road users, saying, “I would like to thank the travelling public for their patience and cooperation while these important bridge maintenance works are completed.”
The Department for Infrastructure has carefully planned the roadworks and traffic management to minimize disruption. Nonetheless, delays are expected, and motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journeys, especially those traveling to ports or airports. Diversion routes will be clearly signposted, and road users are urged to comply with temporary traffic management measures for their safety and that of the road workers.
All work is dependent on favourable weather conditions and will be carried out by Highway Management (City) Ltd under their Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract, with Ekspan Ltd serving as the main contractor.
This latest maintenance phase follows a substantial £700,000 investment in 2024, when 10 bearings were replaced. Further replacements are planned for summer 2026, signaling ongoing commitment to the upkeep of this critical transport artery.
Given the M3 Lagan Bridge’s pivotal role in Belfast’s transport network, these maintenance works underscore the balance between necessary infrastructure upkeep and managing the inevitable short-term disruptions that come with such projects. As the city braces for these closures, the hope is that the improvements will secure smoother and safer journeys long into the future.
