Debate contribution: A1 Junctions Phase 2: Update
Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on .
- MLA
- Ms Liz Kimmins
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 19 January 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- A1 Junctions Phase 2: Update
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5322365
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The A1 junctions phase 2 project will deliver enhanced safety measures along 25 kilometres of the A1 between Loughbrickland and Hillsborough, costing in the region of £120 million to £130 million. It will include the closing up of all gaps in the central median and the provision of a number of new grade-separated junctions. The scheme was confirmed by my predecessor as a single package of works on 2 July 2024, and a restricted list was notified to tenderers on 9 May 2025. That list will remain live until 5 February this year. Since the judgement on the A5 project and the Department's appeal, I have taken time to carefully consider the implications of that and the potential impact on other projects as they move through the next stages of their delivery. That includes the A1 junctions phase 2 project. We have to await the Court of Appeal's ruling, because it is important that we consider it fully when looking at the next steps for all major roads projects, because we do not want to be in a scenario where we face challenges on everything.
Whilst I want to see the project delivered at the earliest possible stage, it is critical that we consider the outcome of the appeal before taking the next steps.
214 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.71).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.71 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:16 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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