B205 (Northern Ireland)
B205 | |||||||
Location Map ( geo) | |||||||
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From: | Newtownbreda (J337683) | ||||||
To: | Ballylesson (J328670) | ||||||
Distance: | 1.2 miles (1.9 km) | ||||||
Meets: | A55, B23 | ||||||
Old route now: | A55 | ||||||
Primary Destinations | |||||||
Highway Authorities | |||||||
Traditional Counties | |||||||
Route outline (key) | |||||||
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Route
The modern B205 and its continuation on the B23 is a popular route from South Belfast to the M1 and Lisburn. Consequently, although the B205 is similar in alignment to other NI B roads, it is much busier.
The road starts at a junction on the A55 that is obviously future-proofed for a further extension of that road to the southwest and the M1. Our road starts at traffic lights at what would be the foot of the slip roads and heads east, turning right at another set of lights. It heads south along Hospital Road, past the site of the former Belvoir Park Hospital, then bears right to climb into open country. After crossing a few fields we descend into Ballylesson and end where the B23 comes in from the right and takes on the road ahead.
History
The modern B205 is only a remaining stub of the original route, as it was largely replaced by the A504 (now A55), which subsumed much of the original route or ran closely parallel to it. That road continues to serve the same role as a southern ringroad for Belfast.
The B205 was originally unclassified but had gained its number by 1946. At that time it only ran between the A20 in Knock and the A24 in Newtownbreda; it had been extended to Ballylesson and the B23 by 1961. The original section of the road was upgraded to become the A504 later in the 1960s and is now part of the A55; that road has also taken over part of the later extension.