A24 (Northern Ireland)
A24 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Belfast (J340742) | |||
To: | Clough (J406403) | |||
Via: | Carryduff, Ballynahinch | |||
Distance: | 23.1 miles (37.2 km) | |||
Meets: | A2, A20, A55, A7, A21, A49, A25, A2 | |||
Primary Destinations | ||||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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The A24 is a medium-length A-road in northern County Down.
The road starts on the A2 in central Belfast, heading south as the northbound-only Victoria Street before crossing the A20 to reach the two-way Cromac Street. The road soon crosses the River Lagan but remains built-up for some distance. Open country is reached after Newtownbreda but this does not last long as the road soon reaches Carryduff, where the A7 heads off left at a roundabout. Logic suggests that the A7 should reach Belfast rather than the A24 but this has never been the case.
The road continues south across the fields passing no places of any significant size. The road gains hard shoulders a couple of miles after crossing the B6 even though it remains S2 otherwise. This layout continues for another couple of miles as far as the edge of Ballynahinch. There is a one-way loop in the centre of town, after which the road continues south.
A few miles later the road reaches Clough. The A25 comes in from the left at a roundabout and the A24 should logically end here. However, according to signage the A24 actually continues as a useless multiplex until the A25 turns off. The road ahead is a spur of the A2.
Future
In April 2021, it was announced that a 3.1km S2+1 bypass for Ballynahinch would be constructed at a cost of £35-45m[1].
Links
- URS: Stage 3 Scheme Assessment Report March 2015 (archive.org)
legislation.gov.uk
- The Trunk Road T2 (Ballynahinch Bypass) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 - This Order provides that 3395 metres of new and upgraded roads in the townlands of Ballynahinch, Glassdrumman, Ballylone Little, Ballylone Big, Magheradrool and Ballymaglave South, County Down
References