A1 (Northern Ireland)
A1 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
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From: | Belfast (J337740) | |||
To: | Killeen (J068195) | |||
Distance: | 42.8 miles (68.9 km) | |||
Meets: | A20, A11, A55, A512, A49, A3, M1, A101, A26, A50, A28, A27, A25, A2, N1 | |||
Former Number(s): | A503 | |||
Old route now: | A26, A28, A2, B113 | |||
Primary Destinations | ||||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
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For the British A1 from London to Edinburgh, see A1.
For the Manx A1 from Douglas to Peel, see A1 (Isle of Man).
For the A1 on Jersey from St Helier west along the coast, see A1 (Jersey).
Route
The A1 is part of the historic postal route from Belfast to Dublin, although the northern section is now shadowed by the A12 Westlink and M1.
It starts outside Belfast City Hall and heads southwest through suburbia as far as Lisburn before diverging from the M1's route at junction 7, heading south towards Banbridge and Newry. Between Sprucefield and Newry, the road is a dual carriageway with hard shoulders throughout most of the length, but with property accesses, bus stops, and at grade junctions, including roundabouts at Hillsborough and Sprucefield. For the majority of this section, National Speed Limit applies, although there are some short sections subject to a 60 m.p.h. limit.
In 2020 a consultation on A1 Junctions Phase 2 took place to improve the standard of the A1 between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland. This would involve the closure of 111 crossings of the central reservation, as well as some side roads. Four new grade separated junctions would also be created, while bus stops on the carriageway would be relocated to the junctions as a cost of £65-75m. Construction is expected to start when funds allow.
The Newry bypass was the last remaining section of single carriageway between Belfast and Dublin, but was completed to dual carriageway in mid 2010. This section has been completed to 'motorway' standard, with full grade separation and restrictions on property access/frontage.
After the Newry Bypass, the A1 crosses the border and becomes the N1, leading to the Republic's M1 towards Dublin. However, the border does funny things in this area and the next junction south straddles the border, with a short section of the northbound N1 actually in Northern Ireland.
Videos
Links
DfI Roads
BBC News
Northern Ireland Road Site
legislation.gov.uk