Minister gets on her bike to open new walking and cycling pathway

The new 1.4 kilometre traffic-free path links Blaris Road to Sprucefield Retail Park and Sprucefield Park & Ride.

It will provide a direct link to enable people to walk or cycle on to Union Locks, Lisburn and the Lagan Towpath.

Opening the path, Ms Mallon, who was joined by Caroline Bloomfield, Sustrans Northern Ireland Director and Mayor Cllr Nicholas Trimble, said: “I am delighted to open this new facility as part of my commitment to deliver sustainable infrastructure that will better connect our communities and transform lives.

“With the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, we are now having to adapt to a new way of living, and as part of that, we need to create more opportunities for active travel and create safer infrastructure for those who want to walk, wheel and cycle.”

The Blaris Greenway, links both Sprucefield Retail Park and the Sprucefield Park & Ride to Lisburn and onwards to Belfast City Centre via Union Locks and the Lagan Towpath to give 20 kilometres of virtually traffic free walking and cycling.

Ms Mallon continued: “This is the type of infrastructure I want to deliver for communities as I hope it will encourage people to rethink their way of travelling to work and for leisure purposes, and engage more in outdoor activities which in turn will improve their health and mental wellbeing.

“Blaris Greenway forms an important part of a wider network for all and I look forward to working with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council and indeed all Councils to assist them in taking forward their greenway projects. I am very keen to develop greenways as part of my vision to develop sustainable infrastructure projects that will deliver lasting change.”