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Diggers move in ahead of Boyne Bridge demolition

BBC Two yellow diggers work opposite each other on the Boyne Bridge in Belfast city centre. A multi-story car park is in the background and a detached digger bucket is in the foreground. BBC
Diggers were pictured on the Boyne Bridge in Belfast on Friday morning

Diggers have started work on the Boyne Bridge in central Belfast, which is due to be demolished despite protests from local residents.

The bridge, near Sandy Row, is being dismantled as part of the redevelopment of the streets around the new Grand Central Station.

The station, which provides an integrated transport hub for bus and train services, opened in September.

The current bridge was reconstructed in 1936 but protestors want to save it because William III, or King Billy, is believed to have crossed the site on his way to the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

They argued the bridge should be retained, refurbished and incorporated into the plans.

About 200 people attended a protest at the bridge in early November to press for the bridge to be retained.

Public transport operator Translink said that an archaeologist is on site during the bridge's dismantling to ensure the "original Saltwater Bridge is not impacted".

A partial view of the top of two yellow diggers working on the Boyne Bridge in Belfast. The metal and concrete bridge is dark in colour and covered with warning signs for traffic which used to pass underneath it. Metal barriers and a wooden fence surround the bridge which is being prepared for demolition.
The project to redevelop the area around Boyne Bridge is expected to take about a year

The Boyne Bridge currently forms the part of Durham Street which runs between the Grosvenor Road and Sandy Row.

The demolition is taking place at the request of Translink, which runs Grand Central Station.

"Planning permission was granted for Belfast Grand Central Station by the Department for Infrastructure in March 2019, which included the removal of Durham Street Bridge and construction of new road layout and surrounding public realm space," a Translink spokesperson said.

"Enabling work to begin the dismantling of the bridge has been under way for a number of weeks.

"The entire project is due to be complete by the end of 2025," the spokesperson added.