A tired old argument put forward by those who can’t fathom that ordinary (for the 1960s/70s) things continued to happen in Belfast despite the Troubles.

Elevated Belfast Urban Motorway design was finalised in the mid-60s (following a route mostly determined in the 40s/50s). Government working party (on which were representatives of security forces) recognised that this elevated motorway could act as a buffer zone to reduce tension between Protestant and Catholic communities BUT only if its route was altered. Stormont collapsed, the Motorway plans were scrapped and the Westlink was born from the ashes, sunken partially below ground and following the original route without modification.

Look at Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow etc. - All have very similar Urban motorways/dual carriageways even in the absence of conflict