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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Motorway chaos set to be examined | Motorway chaos set to be examined |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police and the Roads Service are to discuss the traffic chaos that followed a fatal accident on the M2 motorway. | Police and the Roads Service are to discuss the traffic chaos that followed a fatal accident on the M2 motorway. |
| Thousands of motorists were delayed after a man was struck by a bus on the motorway near Belfast on Tuesday. | Thousands of motorists were delayed after a man was struck by a bus on the motorway near Belfast on Tuesday. |
| All lanes countrybound were closed for four hours from York Street to Greencastle following the accident, which happened at about 1345 GMT. | All lanes countrybound were closed for four hours from York Street to Greencastle following the accident, which happened at about 1345 GMT. |
| The motorway did not re-open until after 1800 GMT, as police said they had to carry out a full investigation. | The motorway did not re-open until after 1800 GMT, as police said they had to carry out a full investigation. |
| Translink said the bus involved was the Airport 300. No other vehicles were involved and no-one else was hurt. | |
| Passengers who were on the bus were transferrred to another to continue their journey. | |
| Following any fatal road traffic collision, police have an obligation to carry out a full and comprehensive investigation Police statement The driver of the bus was said to be shocked and shaken by the incident. | Following any fatal road traffic collision, police have an obligation to carry out a full and comprehensive investigation Police statement The driver of the bus was said to be shocked and shaken by the incident. |
| Traffic was queued back to the Grosvenor Road on the Westlink which caused congestion around Millfield College Avenue and Fisherwick Place. | Traffic was queued back to the Grosvenor Road on the Westlink which caused congestion around Millfield College Avenue and Fisherwick Place. |
| Motorists found themselves static for hours as a result. | Motorists found themselves static for hours as a result. |
| The name of the man who died has not yet been released. | |
| 'Key transport corridor' | 'Key transport corridor' |
| Brian Maxwell from the Roads Service said they did their best to keep the traffic moving while motorway lanes were closed. | Brian Maxwell from the Roads Service said they did their best to keep the traffic moving while motorway lanes were closed. |
| "Whenever we lose a key transport corridor like the M2 northbound, which carries about 60,000 vehicles a day and 6,500 at the evening peak, that traffic has to transfer to the urban road network," he said. | "Whenever we lose a key transport corridor like the M2 northbound, which carries about 60,000 vehicles a day and 6,500 at the evening peak, that traffic has to transfer to the urban road network," he said. |
| "That's when the demand exceeds the capacity of the network, resulting in congestion. | "That's when the demand exceeds the capacity of the network, resulting in congestion. |
| "We had to manage that traffic for as long as the road was shut, and police had the responsibility to investigate the incident." | "We had to manage that traffic for as long as the road was shut, and police had the responsibility to investigate the incident." |
| In a statement, police said they were aware of the frustration caused when there was major roads disruption. | In a statement, police said they were aware of the frustration caused when there was major roads disruption. |
| "However, following any fatal road traffic collision, police have an obligation to carry out a full and comprehensive investigation," it said. | "However, following any fatal road traffic collision, police have an obligation to carry out a full and comprehensive investigation," it said. |
| "While we try to ensure that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum, due to the location of this particular incident a number of major routes were badly affected." | "While we try to ensure that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum, due to the location of this particular incident a number of major routes were badly affected." |
| It is not the first time in recent months that Belfast city centre has ground to a standstill because of a single incident on the roads. | It is not the first time in recent months that Belfast city centre has ground to a standstill because of a single incident on the roads. |