The PSNI have advised that a number of roads including the M2 and M5 motorways will be closed as an abnormal load is moved under full police escort from Belfast Harbour West to Kilroot Power Station.
A similar operation took place last weekend when an abnormal load was transported to the power station.
The M2 citybound and M5 citybound will both be closed on tonight, Saturday 23 July from 23:00 into the early hours of Sunday 24 July for the transport of a slow moving abnormal load (a Gas Turbine 6.45 m x 80.2 m weighing 529 Tonnes).
The load will access the M2 directly on the Fortwilliam roundabout (citybound off-slip) to travel northwards on the M2 and M5 to Kilroot, on the Belfast bound lanes using a road closure.
The full route of the load movement is Belfast Harbour West - Dargan Road - M2 on Junction 1 Fortwilliam - M2 - M5 - A2 - Carrickfergus - A2 - Kilroot (the load will move back onto the Carrickfergus / Kilroot bound lanes on the A2 Shore Road around Whiteabbey).
A police spokesperson said:
“It is therefore required that the M2 citybound will be closed at Junction 2 Greencastle with traffic leaving the Motorway to join the A2 Shore Road to head towards Belfast. The A2 Shore Road on-slip to the M2 citybound at Greencastle will also be closed.
“There will be no access to the M5 Citybound at the Rushpark Roundabout - the Police will make operational decisions and redirect traffic as required as the load moves leaves the M5 at Rushpark and through the Whiteabbey area.
“Given the time of day with low traffic volumes any disruption to traffic should be minimal. Please comply with any instructions given by Police/Escort officers.
“Please ensure routes are kept clear in order to allow this load to move unhindered as it passes along A2 Shore Road.”