DELAYS ON ROADS AS CLINTON COMES TO ULSTER
Delays on the roads as Clinton comes to Ulster
By Claire McGahan
Hectic schedule on one-day visit
8.30am: Touchdown at RAF Aldergrove where he is expected to be met by Tony Blair.
9.10am: Arrives at Stormont where he is due to meet members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
11.15am: Moves on to Waterfront Hall in Belfast where he is expected to deliver his keynote speech.
Early afternoon: Visits site of new Springvale campus of University of Ulster in west Belfast.
Late afternoon: Flies to Omagh where he is expected to meet bomb victims and relatives of the dead and visit scene of the atrocity.
Evening: Moves on to Armagh where he will deliver a speech in the city centre.
MOTORISTS will experience delays and diversions on the roads in the run-up to and during tomorrow's visit of President Bill Clinton and the First Lady.
And today the police issued a detailed breakdown of where potential bottlenecks and closed roads will be at the three centres the presidential party will visit - Belfast, Omagh and Armagh.
And they have set up special traffic helplines in each of the locations in a bid to avoid traffic chaos.
In Belfast, disruption and diversions were expected in the city centre today between 2.30pm and 8pm today as prepartions for the visit continue.
Tomorrow, as the President and First Lady make their way from the International Airport to Stormont, the M2 motorway citybound and the Sydenham By-pass countrybound will be closed between 8.30-9.15am.
Later, as the President moves from Stormont to the Waterfront Hall, the following routes will be closed between 10.50am-11.20am - Prince of Wales Avenue, Newtownards Road, Hawthornden Way, Belmont Road roundabout, Park-way, Holywood Rd, Sydenham By-pass, Bridge End, Short Strand, Albert Bridge, East Bridge Street, Oxford Street and the Waterfront Hall.
As the focus of the visit moves to Spring-vale, the Springfield Road, Grosvenor Road, Westlink (east) York Link, M2 from Sandyknowles interchange, M5, Lagan Bridge (M3), and the Sydenham By-pass to the City airport, will all be closed from 2 - 2.30pm.
Because of early morning road closures tomorrow, a number of roads to and from Belfast International airport will be affected between 6am and 9am - anyone going to the airport should allow extra time for travelling.
For more traffic information, a police helpline for the greater Belfast area will operate from 2pm-midnight today, and from 6am-4pm tomorrow, on 01232 574000.
In Omagh, where the President is meeting some relatives of victims of the bomb outrage, traffic will be disrupted between 11am and 7pm.
Police say delays will be kept to a minimum but drivers should allow extra time for journeys and diversions will be signposted.
A traffic helpline will be operated by Omagh police during today and tomorrow on 01662 246177.
In Armagh, a number of streets will be closed to all traffic from 4pm onwards tomorrow.
Diversions will be signposted throughout the day and access to the city centre will be restricted.
But an out-of-town car parking and free bus shuttle service will operate from 4pm onwards on city approach roads for people who want to see the President and First Lady.
These services will start from - A3 Portadown Road (parking at Castledillion) , Hamiltonsbawn Road, Newry Road, Keady Road,
Monaghan Road, Killylea Road (parking at Tullymore Park), Cathedral Road (signs to direct traffic on to Killylea Road parking area), and Moy Road.
Designated disabled parking facilities are available at Lonsdale Road and at Lower English Street. On the Mall east and west, traffic will be restricted from 7am at the north end.
An Armagh traffic helpline will be opened at 9am today for inquiries - 01861 521160.
By Claire McGahan
Hectic schedule on one-day visit
8.30am: Touchdown at RAF Aldergrove where he is expected to be met by Tony Blair.
9.10am: Arrives at Stormont where he is due to meet members of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
11.15am: Moves on to Waterfront Hall in Belfast where he is expected to deliver his keynote speech.
Early afternoon: Visits site of new Springvale campus of University of Ulster in west Belfast.
Late afternoon: Flies to Omagh where he is expected to meet bomb victims and relatives of the dead and visit scene of the atrocity.
Evening: Moves on to Armagh where he will deliver a speech in the city centre.
MOTORISTS will experience delays and diversions on the roads in the run-up to and during tomorrow's visit of President Bill Clinton and the First Lady.
And today the police issued a detailed breakdown of where potential bottlenecks and closed roads will be at the three centres the presidential party will visit - Belfast, Omagh and Armagh.
And they have set up special traffic helplines in each of the locations in a bid to avoid traffic chaos.
In Belfast, disruption and diversions were expected in the city centre today between 2.30pm and 8pm today as prepartions for the visit continue.
Tomorrow, as the President and First Lady make their way from the International Airport to Stormont, the M2 motorway citybound and the Sydenham By-pass countrybound will be closed between 8.30-9.15am.
Later, as the President moves from Stormont to the Waterfront Hall, the following routes will be closed between 10.50am-11.20am - Prince of Wales Avenue, Newtownards Road, Hawthornden Way, Belmont Road roundabout, Park-way, Holywood Rd, Sydenham By-pass, Bridge End, Short Strand, Albert Bridge, East Bridge Street, Oxford Street and the Waterfront Hall.
As the focus of the visit moves to Spring-vale, the Springfield Road, Grosvenor Road, Westlink (east) York Link, M2 from Sandyknowles interchange, M5, Lagan Bridge (M3), and the Sydenham By-pass to the City airport, will all be closed from 2 - 2.30pm.
Because of early morning road closures tomorrow, a number of roads to and from Belfast International airport will be affected between 6am and 9am - anyone going to the airport should allow extra time for travelling.
For more traffic information, a police helpline for the greater Belfast area will operate from 2pm-midnight today, and from 6am-4pm tomorrow, on 01232 574000.
In Omagh, where the President is meeting some relatives of victims of the bomb outrage, traffic will be disrupted between 11am and 7pm.
Police say delays will be kept to a minimum but drivers should allow extra time for journeys and diversions will be signposted.
A traffic helpline will be operated by Omagh police during today and tomorrow on 01662 246177.
In Armagh, a number of streets will be closed to all traffic from 4pm onwards tomorrow.
Diversions will be signposted throughout the day and access to the city centre will be restricted.
But an out-of-town car parking and free bus shuttle service will operate from 4pm onwards on city approach roads for people who want to see the President and First Lady.
These services will start from - A3 Portadown Road (parking at Castledillion) , Hamiltonsbawn Road, Newry Road, Keady Road,
Monaghan Road, Killylea Road (parking at Tullymore Park), Cathedral Road (signs to direct traffic on to Killylea Road parking area), and Moy Road.
Designated disabled parking facilities are available at Lonsdale Road and at Lower English Street. On the Mall east and west, traffic will be restricted from 7am at the north end.
An Armagh traffic helpline will be opened at 9am today for inquiries - 01861 521160.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0353
Published Date: 02-Sep-98
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