NEWS

Thursday 01 October 2026 Learner drivers in Northern Ireland face a new route to passing their test from today, as a major licensing reform introduces a six-month minimum learning period, compulsory training records and new restrictions after qualifying. Graduated Driver Licensing, known as GDL, launches on Thursday, 1 October, with changes affecting how people learn, when they can sit their practical test and who younger drivers can carry at night. For people already learnin

Tuesday 29 September 2026 Travellers heading to Belfast International Airport are being urged to allow extra journey time as an £816,000 resurfacing scheme brings overnight closures to one of its approach roads. Work has started on approximately two kilometres of the A57 Ballyrobin Road at Killead, between the A26 Killead Roundabout and the Airport Roundabout. The affected stretch links the A26 with the airport, forming part of the approach for traffic coming through Templepa

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Brendan McAleer, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Diaspora and International Development Officer, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins pictured before a meeting of partners and stakeholders involved in delivering Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026. Monday 21 September 2026 Belfast is already turning its attention to an even bigger Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2027 after this summer’s event

Aerial view of Ballymena Park & Ride, located adjacent to Translink’s Bus & Rail Centre Friday 18 September 2026 Ballymena is to receive more than £2 million in new funding towards the major expansion of its Park and Ride facility, increasing capacity from 222 spaces to more than 600. The £2.05 million allocation has been confirmed by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins as part of £3.25 million in Local Growth Fund Capital being directed towards transport and connectivity pro

An alleyway in Killane Park, Ahoghill where residents have raised concerns over weeds and moss across the estate TUV Alderman Stewart McDonald has called for action over the condition of footpaths and alleyways at Killane Park in Ahoghill after residents raised concerns about overgrown weeds, vegetation and moss. The local representative said he was contacted by residents unhappy with the condition of the area and subsequently raised their concerns with North Antrim MP Jim Al

Inset: UUP Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA The Ulster Unionist Party has confirmed it will oppose the proposed Display of Flags and Emblems Bill at Second Stage, arguing that responsibility for deciding which flags should be removed should not be placed on the Department for Infrastructure. UUP Infrastructure spokesperson John Stewart MLA said his party supports the removal of paramilitary flags but believes the proposed legislation risks drawing civil servants i

Learner and newly qualified drivers across Northern Ireland are being urged to prepare for the biggest overhaul of the driver licensing and testing system in around 70 years, with new rules taking effect from 1 October. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) will introduce a compulsory six-month minimum learning period, mandatory training recorded in a logbook and new restrictions for young people after they pass their test. The changes will also extend the period during which newl

(L-R) Lisa McLaughlin, Harbour Master, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Robert Skelly, Chair of Coleraine Harbour Commissioners. A major £1.2 million project to secure the historic Barmouth Moles at the mouth of the River Bann has been completed, reducing the risk of tidal flooding, coastal erosion and disruption to vessels using Coleraine Harbour. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins visited Castlerock Pier to see the finished marine engineering works, which were prior

Drivers could be banned from overtaking school buses on single-carriageway roads where the national 60mph speed limit applies, under proposed new legislation aimed at protecting children as they get on and off buses. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed she has selected the Department for Infrastructure’s preferred legislative approach following consultation, with plans to bring the proposal to the Northern Ireland Executive before potentially introducing legisla

The newly resurfaced Galgorm Road in Ballymena The resurfacing of a key route from Galgorm into Ballymena has been completed, bringing an improvement to a stretch of road which local representatives say had caused concern among residents for some time. TUV councillors Stewart McDonald and Matthew Armstrong have welcomed the completion of the works on the main road into the town, saying carrying out the scheme during the summer holidays helped avoid some of the worst potential

Motorists travelling through Belfast are being warned to allow extra time over the next three weekends as major maintenance work on the M3 Lagan Bridge brings slip-road closures, lane restrictions and lengthy diversions. The first restrictions begin at 9pm tomorrow, Friday 14 August, and remain in place until 6am on Monday 17 August, with drivers heading from the Sydenham Bypass towards the Westlink, north Belfast and west Belfast among those affected. Further weekend closure

The success of the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has strengthened plans for more pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, with Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins confirming that proposals will go before the public within weeks. More than 1.6 million visits were recorded across the eight-day festival, when a number of city centre streets were closed to traffic to accommodate crowds, performances and events. The temporary arrangements have intensified the debate over how Belfast’

The crowded streets of Belfast city centre during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann The success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann has become a “tipping point” for the debate over greater pedestrianisation in Belfast city centre, a councillor has claimed, amid growing calls for some of the temporary traffic restrictions to lead to permanent change. Belfast Green Party Councillor Brian Smyth says the “bottom line” is that the Fleadh “would not have worked without pedestrianisation in th

Grove Road, Ballymena Drivers in Ballymena are being warned to expect up to eight weeks of disruption as a £627,000 resurfacing scheme gets under way on Grove Road next month. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has confirmed that resurfacing work on the C109 Grove Roadwill begin on Monday 10 August, with the project expected to continue until Wednesday 7 October, subject to weather conditions. What road is affected? The £627,000 investment will see 2.17 kilometres of Gro

Motorists in the Larne area are being warned to expect significant disruption from next week as a major £854,000 road resurfacing project gets underway, bringing a continuous five-week closure to part of the B99 Waterfall Road and Watch Hill Road. The Department for Infrastructure scheme will resurface almost 3km of road between the Ballyrickard Road/Waterfall Road junction and the New Line junction, with work due to begin on Monday 3 August. Five-week closure planned To allo

Pictured: Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Northern Ireland’s roads are set to receive longer-lasting repairs under a new maintenance strategy that promises to improve quality, make better use of technology and target investment where it is needed most. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins unveiled the new Road Maintenance Strategy on Monday, outlining a new approach aimed at improving the condition of the region’s 26,000-kilometre road network despite continuing financial

Motorists travelling on the M2 tonight (Friday) are being advised to plan ahead as a section of the motorway will close in both directions after resurfacing work progressed faster than expected. The overnight closure, between Junction 4 at Sandyknowes and Junction 5 at Templepatrick, will allow contractors to remove the temporary contraflow system and reinstall the central safety barrier before the motorway fully reopens on Saturday morning. Closure brought forward The Depart

Inset: UUP councillor for Braid, Alan Barr, and the busy junction impacted by new signage on the A26 Lisnevenagh Road. Motorists using a busy stretch of the A26 near Ballymena should soon see potentially hazardous road signs relocated after concerns were raised that they were obstructing drivers’ visibility at a junction on a carriageway with a history of serious collisions. The issue centred on newly installed Department for Infrastructure (DfI) signs at the Valley Road and

The public is being invited to help shape proposed legislation that could change how flags and emblems are displayed on publicly owned infrastructure across Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Infrastructure has launched a Call for Evidence on the proposed Display of Flags and Emblems Bill, giving individuals, community groups and organisations the opportunity to comment before MLAs decide whether the legislation should progress to detailed scrutin

Motorists using one of Northern Ireland’s busiest commuter routes are being warned to expect delays, diversions and overnight closures later this month as a £1.5 million resurfacing project gets underway on the M2. The major road improvement scheme will affect the northbound carriageway between Junction 4 at Sandyknowes and Junction 5 at Templepatrick, with work scheduled to run from Friday 17 July until Monday 27 July. Thousands of drivers travelling between Belfast, Ballyme