A Stormont department has been accused of "passing the buck" on safety concerns surrounding a major road junction beside Ulster University's flagship new Belfast campus.
The long-delayed £370million university redevelopment is due to formally open its doors next month, bringing 15,500 students and staff into the city centre.
But there are fears over an influx of thousands of students having to cross a busy road up to eight lanes wide to reach the campus.
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The junction at York Street and Great Patrick Street connects motorists to the Westlink, M2 and M3 - three of Northern Ireland's busiest roads.
Several high-rise student apartment blocks have been built in recent years by private developers between York Street and Great Patrick Street, providing accommodation for more than 2,000 people.
Ulster University said a multi-agency working group made proposals for changes to the junction, but formal decisions from the Department for Infrastructure are still "pending".
However, the department claimed the university was "obliged to arrange for any road infrastructure improvements" and it "did not propose any improvements to this junction".
It said some changes have been implemented including the repair of guard rails and new street lighting and signage.
An "interim improvement scheme" for the road layout and traffic signals will begin "later this autumn", but officials were unable to provide any artist's impression as the plans are "at an early stage".
Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister said she has been raising concerns over a lack of "forward planning" on this issue for many years.
The North Belfast representative said she would be seeking meetings with both the university and the department.
"It is another prime example of passing the buck when it comes to working together across sectors," she said.
Expressing her concerns, Ms McAllister added: "Are there safety measures put in place? Is it actually going to be safe?
"Interim measures aren't enough. It shouldn't be interim measures now - it should have been sorted before. They really need to get a move on."
Green Party leader Mal O'Hara said he has "repeatedly" raised concerns as a city councillor and claimed Stormont has "done little to nothing to prepare for the influx of this huge number of people".
He said: "I am concerned that we will see collisions, injuries or ultimately deaths unless it's addressed immediately."
Ulster University said it has for some years been working closely with government departments, statutory agencies, community groups and residents.
A spokeswoman said: "A dedicated junctions working group has been specifically reviewing the junctions with a focus on safety and traffic management.
"This multi-agency group has representation from the Department for Infrastructure and meets regularly to review and implement practical and legislative change.
"Plans considered and agreed by the group include provision for a reduction in lanes, new road crossing arrangements, and dedicated routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
"Formal departmental decisions on these proposals are pending."
She added that local transport network operations in the vicinity of the campus will be monitored during its initial opening weeks.
A Department for Infrastructure spokesman said: "As with all new developments, the Ulster University is obliged to arrange for any road infrastructure improvements arising from their development. In this case the university did not propose any improvements to this junction.
"This conclusion was based on the traffic analysis undertaken by the university's consultants. Since that time the department has reviewed the junction layout and can confirm it complies with the national standards for this type of junction."
He said there are longer term plans to improve the junction as part of the draft "Bolder Vision" strategy for Belfast.
"In the meantime the department plans to carry out an interim improvement scheme, which is due to start later this autumn, once traffic and pedestrian levels settle down," he added.
“This scheme is at an early stage of development and therefore there are no artist's impressions available. The scheme will comprise improvements to the road layout, traffic signals, traffic signs and road markings."
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