The route of the A1 in red from Belfast city centre (Co. Antrim) to the border at Carrickcarnan (Co. Louth)

The A1 is a major route in Northern Ireland. It runs from Belfast via Lisburn and Banbridge to the border with the Republic of Ireland south of Newry, from where the road continues to Dublin, becoming the N1 road and M1 motorway. Between Sprucefield and Carrickcarnan the road forms part of the European route E01.

Recent developments

The A1 is fully dual carriageway but some junctions remain relatively low specification as they necessitate right-turning movements across the central reservation. The busier junctions have been improved by the provision of bridges or underpasses.

A flyover has been constructed at the busy Rathfriland Road junction in Banbridge and an underpass at the very dangerous Hillsborough road junction in Dromore was completed in June 2005.^[1]

Improved junctions at Banbridge and Hillsborough opened in September 2009,^[2] at Loughbrickland in December 2009^[3] and at Banbridge Road, Dromore in February 2010.^[4]

The scheme involving the dualling of the A1 between Beech Hill and Cloghogue was completed in July 2010, five months ahead of schedule.^[5]

Planned developments

The Roads Service of Northern Ireland has planned to provide four further grade separated junctions. These schemes are located at:

• Listullycurran Road, between Dromore and Hillsborough
• Gowdystown Road, south of Dromore
• Skeltons Road, between Dromore and Banbridge
• Waringsford Road, north of Banbridge.

Further measures envisaged to improve safety include a central reservation safety barrier be to constructed from the A1's junction with the M1 at Sprucefield to Loughbrickland. This will involve the closing of many of the dual carriageway's central cross-over points.^[6]

The Road Service also plan to improve the link between the M1 and A1 at Sprucefield in a scheme that would include a flyover at Hillsborough, the last remaining roundabout on the route between Dublin and Belfast.^[7]

<Gallery> File:A1 Cloghogue Roundabout.jpg|E01: roadworks at the Cloghouge roundabout on the A1 road, Newry, Northern Ireland.November 2007. File:A1 looking south. - geograph.org.uk - 87676.jpg|A1 looking south. Just before the rh turn for Moira.December 2005 File:Sheepbridge Inn - geograph.org.uk - 178645.jpg|Sheepbridge Inn. On one of the few remaining single-carriageway stretches of the A1 Belfast to Dublin road.June 2006 </Gallery>

References

ga:A1 (Tuaisceart ireann)