IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Dublin Road, BANBRIDGE, BT32 3NW

See Image Of the four flyovers now under construction south of Sprucefield, Loughbrickland is perhaps the most interesting. It provides a grade-separated junction at the Newry end of the bypass Image The contract includes the construction of hard shoulders, something which the existing road lacks. In practice it will be almost a complete rebuild of a road opened in 1973. It is not clear from the official material but it seems likely that right turns into Loughbrickland from the Banbridge end will be prohibited by closing the gap in the central reservation. Traffic from that direction will, presumably, use the new flyover instead. This is a view of the temporary arrangements at the Newry end of the bypass. Continue to Image

Box no 645 used to stand, close to the main road, to the south of Loughbrickland. For those too young to remember such things Image will explain. Now gone but see Image

As far as I know the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Loughbrickland was built in 1817. It sits between Rathfriland Street (left) and the Dublin Road.

See Image This is a similar view but with a heavy frost starting to clear. The fog but had changed to light mist. The temperature was below freezing point but the sky was almost cloudless. There is a coating of ice on the western shore but the rest of the lake is clear.

See Image This is a similar view but with a heavy frost starting to clear. The fog but had changed to light mist. The temperature was below freezing point but the sky was cloudless.

See Image This section of the road opened in 2005. This is the view towards Belfast where it joins the existing Loughbrickland bypass (note the absence of hard shoulders on the bypass).

When the Loughbrickland bypass opened in the 70’s an underpass was thoughtfully provided to allow cattle to be moved to the milking parlour without having to cross the dual carriageway. Unfortunately the junction with the main road, for traffic leaving Loughbrickland southwards, proved to be the scene of many accidents. As a temporary measure, pending the building of a grade-separated junction, the underpass has been converted for use by vehicles. This is the view towards Loughbrickland. My apologies but I don’t know how the cattle now get to the milking!!

See Image This is the section of the lake, is this square, seen from the embankment of the Belfast – Dublin road.

See Image I have included this photo, not as a duplicate, but to show how the new road has managed to avoid encroaching further upon Loughbrickland lake. The lake is on the right and the new road follows the line of the old. See also Image

See Image The view south (towards Newry and Dublin) just after the start of the temporary re-alignment of the existing road eastwards. I am standing in what was the northbound carriageway. Continue to Image