Liz Kimmins Backs Glider Extension Despite Traffic Congestion Warning

Stormont infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins is backing the Belfast Rapid Transit 2 plans even after an internal DfI paper said the proposed Glengormley extension would create significant traffic congestion. Documents obtained by News NI said the route would also harm service reliability and punctuality. The project still needs more funding before the full extension can be delivered.

Glengormley Route Assessment

The internal briefing paper, written by DfI's major projects director in November 2024, said the Glengormley extension would create significant traffic congestion and damage the reliability of any Glider service. A feasibility study went further, saying the plan was not recommended because of congestion concerns at the junction between the Antrim, Hightown and Ballyclare roads.

The same study said the route would have a significantly negative impact on BRT2 service reliability and punctuality, while also affecting general traffic. For people expected to use the north Belfast corridor, that means the proposed extension was judged on its own transport effects, not just on how quickly it could be built.

Kimmins And BRT2 Plans

Kimmins said she hopes a full extension can be delivered by 2033 and has maintained that there has been no delay to plans to bring the Glider to north and south Belfast. Last year she paused the extension plans, saying they were not economically viable at that time, then said the Glengormley and Carryduff extensions could be kept under review.

In March, she told assembly members, It's only when these extensions are completed that BRT2 will be fully delivered. The Department for Infrastructure said she remained committed to the project and that a first phase was on target for completion by 2030.

Funding For Belfast Rapid Transit 2

Belfast Rapid Transit 2 is intended to extend the Glider, which launched in 2018 with services between east and west Belfast, into the north and south of the city. In 2022, the preferred route was set along the Antrim Road in the north and the Ormeau and Saintfield roads in the south, with extensions to Glengormley and Carryduff also decided.

The project is estimated to cost £124.5m, but only £48m has been secured so far. The gap leaves the Glengormley and Carryduff extensions dependent on further decisions before the wider BRT2 plan can be fully delivered.

For residents and regular passengers along the proposed north Belfast corridor, the immediate issue is not the launch of a new service but whether the route can proceed without worsening congestion at the roads and junctions identified in the DfI papers.