Artist's impression of the redesigned Broadway junction

Roads Minister Shaun Woodward made the appeal after he cut the first sod in a ceremony to mark the scheme.

It will create three continuous lanes on the M1 and Westlink between Black's Road and Divis Street junctions.

Work on the upgrade is expected to begin later this month and will be completed in the spring of 2009.

Mr Woodward said the improvements would deliver "huge benefits" for Northern Ireland's economy.

"Once completed, these improvements will provide better access to and through Belfast, he said.

The Westlink carries 65,000 motorists every day and is NI's busiest road.

The minister acknowledged that the works would cause a significant amount of disruption to drivers.

WESTLINK WORKS Widening the M1/Westlink to provide a dual three-lane road from Stockmans Lane to Divis Street Constructing a dual three lane underpass at Broadway and partial underpass at Grosvenor Road Replacing the bridges at Stockmans Lane junction Modifying the Roden Street/Mulhouse Road junction Introducing bus priority measures between Broadway and Roden Street Building a cycleway/footway between Broadway and Grosvenor Road junctions

He said: "Although this scheme will cause delays during construction, these works on this key strategic route will deliver huge benefits to the Northern Ireland economy.

"I am fully aware of the potential these road works have to cause significant disruption to traffic throughout Belfast.

"In advance of the works starting, Roads Service has planned and developed an extensive range of temporary traffic management measures."

Two lanes will be maintained in both directions throughout the work from 0600 GMT until 2200 GMT on Monday to Saturday and from 1100 GMT on Sundays.

Mr Woodward said motorists could also sign up for a new active traffic alert service, which will provide e-mail alerts of unusual delays, via the Roads Service website.

Drivers have also been asked to consider measures such as public transport and car pooling to reduce congestion.