Belfast city centre street reopens ahead of Christmas retail rush

The reopening of a Belfast city centre street ahead of the busy Christmas shopping period has been welcomed.

Durham Street/Boyne Bridge Place is due to reopen on Saturday morning after being closed for more than a year as part of works associated with Grand Central Station.

Translink said it will also include drop-off/pick-up provision and pedestrian crossings for the transport hub and businesses in the area.

Chris Conway, Translink Group chief executive, said those in the area will see a “vast transformation”.

“This is good news for our passengers, the local communities, pedestrians and road users, providing safe, convenient and attractive access to Belfast Grand Central Station and the surrounding area,” he said.

“The road design has been carefully considered to prioritise safety and cater for large pedestrian flows and it is a vital component in ensuring the overall success of this project.

“Anyone passing through this area will notice the vast transformation underway including development of the impressive Saltwater Square – an attractive new public realm space outside the station due for completion next year.”

He added: “I would like to thank the local communities, businesses, customers and the wider public for their patience and support as we worked hard to deliver this milestone.

“I’d also like to thank colleagues in Translink, the Department for Infrastructure and our contractors for all the progress made to date.

“As the busy festive period gets into full swing, we look forward to welcoming more people into this area and would encourage everyone to visit Belfast Grand Central Station and enjoy the benefits of travelling by bus and train this season and beyond.”

Duane McCreadie, project director at Farrans Sacyr JV, said the team pushed hard to achieve the reopening ahead of Christmas, and also paid tribute to the efforts of their supply chain.

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI and a member of the Sandy Row/Grosvenor Road working group, welcomed the move ahead of Christmas.

“The road was originally closed in October 2024, and I know the Department for Infrastructure, Translink and their contractors have worked extremely hard to get to this point,” he said.

“We are now entering a vital trading period in the lead up to Christmas and the timing of the reopening of the road is important in that regard. However, traffic congestion remains an issue in the city centre at this time of year, and we would continue to encourage consumers to choose public transport when they travel to the city centre as their first option.

“The reopening of this road will also help to re-establish connections to inner city areas including Sandy Row and Grosvenor Road. Those communities stand to benefit significantly though increased footfall from the new Station as well as the planned investment in the wider Weavers Cross development. I look forward to seeing traders in these areas see these benefits realised in the years ahead.”