To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, in light of the number of collisions at the Saintfield Road and Old Ballynahinch Road junction, to outline a timeline of actions being taken to improve safety at the junction.

Ms Kimmins

Road safety is a high priority for my Department, and we are committed to working proactively to make our roads safer and address the needs of all road users. I fully recognise the concerns about the junction, which have been raised with my Department by a number of elected representatives, including Michelle Guy. My officials have identified this junction, along with Ballymacbrennan and Crossan’s Crossroads, as three locations where improvements are being developed. Those works are considered to be a priority, and a consultant has been commissioned to take the proposals forward. However, Members will appreciate that progressing junction improvements of that nature involves detailed design, land acquisition, engagement with landowners and procurement, so delivery will take some time. In recognition of the timeline associated with the full junction improvement scheme that is required, we have already taken proactive interim steps to improve safety at the junction. Most recently, during nearby roadworks, we carried out roadway and drainage cleaning, renewed road markings and cut back vegetation. We have also started work to renew the high-friction surfacing and upgrade the road markings with increased performance road markings at the junction, as well as cleaning signs and replacing catseyes in the area, all of which will support road safety while the full junction improvement scheme is being progressed.

Ms Kimmins

First, we take this very seriously, particularly given that there have been fatalities. In my response, I acknowledged that the Department is treating the junction as a priority. Unfortunately, a complex process is needed to do exactly what we need to do, which is a full upgrade and improvement of the three locations that I have mentioned. However, we need to make sure that we do it right. In my previous response I stepped the Member through the work that is required to get to that stage, which is why we have commissioned the interim works to increase safety until the work is completed. For example, it can take some time to engage with landowners about land acquisitions, and it is not within the Department's control. We can dedicate our resources to that, but it takes time because we are required to work with external parties, such as landowners. I have seen that in many other projects, and it has been a learning curve for me since I came into the role, having dealt with constituency issues where it has been difficult to comprehend why things take the time that they do. I assure the Member that we will not be found wanting in terms of the pace of this, and we will ensure that it keeps pushing forward. It has been strongly acknowledged that the junction requires the improvements that have been approved, and we will work hard to make sure that the improvements are delivered at the earliest possible stage, with all the work that is required.

Mr McHugh

Minister, what plan do you have to improve the condition of the road network?

Ms Kimmins

As the Member may be aware, the consultation on the draft road maintenance strategy ran from 2 December and closed at the end of January 2026. I am grateful to all those who provided feedback to the consultation, because it has been overwhelmingly positive. I am working closely with my officials to finalise the consultation report and update the draft road maintenance strategy to reflect the feedback from the consultation. I hope to publish the consultation report and the road maintenance strategy in the coming weeks. The new strategy will ensure that my Department can deliver road maintenance in a more organised way, which will improve effectiveness and enhance our ability to respond to incidents and weather events that impact on our road network. Once that is published, my Department will be in a much stronger position to progress a more modern, more data-driven approach to road maintenance across the North. As I have said before in the House, I am prioritising building long-term resilience into the road network, albeit in a constrained financial environment. That is why we have also included workforce recruitment and development as part of that approach. That puts us in a good position to make a real, tangible difference to our road network and what the people whom we represent see day-to-day.

Mr Kingston

The Minister will be aware of the need to improve safety and reduce congestion at the York Street interchange in north Belfast. However, we now know that the extra funding secured for that — it was a named project as part of the 2017 confidence-and-supply agreement — was all spent elsewhere. What plans does the Minister have to deliver the new York Street interchange?

Ms Kimmins

As the Member will know from my response to his questions on that issue, that predates me, so I cannot speak to the decisions that happened at that time. However, as the Member will also be aware, we do not have an agreed Budget, and that will factor into Budget discussions. I have met the consultants to discuss the York Street interchange in recent months, and I know that they are looking at options. I know the importance of it. I come along the Westlink every day when coming here to work, and I know how significant the congestion is. Any challenge along that route creates bigger problems not just for people on the route but for the wider city and for people coming to and going from Belfast. That issue is very much still on the agenda, and it is about looking at what we can do. However, everything that we do is related to budget, and, hopefully, we will get an agreed Budget in the not-so-distant future.

Mr O'Toole

The original question was about the Saintfield Road in the constituency of Lagan Valley. Well, a mile or two east of that is the Saintfield Road in Carryduff, which is in my constituency and has been a hotspot for collisions. The community in Carryduff wants urgent action. An elderly woman died on the Saintfield Road earlier this year. That community is crying out for attention from your Department to traffic calming and road safety, particularly pedestrian safety measures. I ask you and your Department to take a hard look at what actions you are taking, particularly in Carryduff and that stretch down the Saintfield Road, because it is not safe enough for pedestrians in that community, and something needs to be done. I ask the Minister to look at that and to task her officials with prioritising road safety in Carryduff.

Ms Kimmins

If there are issues that have not been addressed or assessed, I am happy to look at them again. Everything that we do is about striving to ensure that we improve road safety across the North. The Member will know that everything is a priority but that, due to budget, it is not always possible to fulfil everything. However, we work hard to ensure that we do what we can and do it in good time. I am more than happy to take that issue away and speak to officials to see whether more can be done in those specific locations. If there are sections along the Saintfield Road that the Member wishes me to give particular attention to, I am happy to do so.