MOTORISTS in Enniskillen have faced long tailbacks this week as work got underway on a £500,000 bridge strengthening scheme at Johnston Bridge on the Cornagrade Road.

School runs, taxis, buses, delivery firms, commuters and workers were all affected by the congestion caused when the work started at 8am on Monday.

The A32 Cornagrade Road at Johnston Bridge is now closed to southern bound traffic until August 28. Transport NI has said that consideration will also be given to extending the work to include the south bridge (i.e. between the bridge and the roundabout at the library), which would result in work continuing until the end of October.

A diversion is in operation via A32 Irvinestown Road, A32 Forthill Street, Gaol Square, A4 Friths Pass and the Wellington Road, all of which are tailed back at peak times.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter this week, parents picking their children up from Holy Trinity site one at Cornagrade voiced their annoyance at the delays and asked why the roadworks could not wait one more week when the school holidays start.

A mother-of-three who picks up one child at Holy Trinity site one, another at site two on Mill Street and a third at St. Michael’s College said: “It took me 40 minutes to get between site one and two. I then had to pick my son up from a school trip at St. Michael’s. I left Cornagrade at 4.20pm and didn’t arrive at St. Michael’s until 5pm because the traffic was at a standstill the whole way along the Irvinestown Road.” The busy mum has decided to park one car at Cornagrade and one car at the library so the family can walk to the library and drive home out the Sligo Road.

Irene Chen from Enniskillen says: “This is very awkward. I have to pick up one child at site one and another at site two. Why not wait one week? Maybe it’s very important, but why not leave it one week until the summer holidays or work during the night?” Francie McGilley from Cavandale agrees, saying: “They should have held out one week until the schools finished.

“I’m okay heading out the new road but coming back in is a problem. They should have left traffic go both ways on the part of the road that remains open.” Transport Minister Danny Kennedy announced the bridge strengthening scheme earlier this month. Following an assessment of the Johnston Bridges structures TransportNI has determined that they no longer meet present day loading requirements and are in need of structural repairs. The extensive improvements will entail removal of the bridge surfacing on both bridges, application of a new waterproofing layer and relaying of kerbs and new surfacing. The footway on the eastern side of the bridges will be widened to facilitate a cycle path.

The Minister said: “This is a very significant investment which will extend the life of the structures, ensuring that they are fit for purpose for many years to come.” In response to local concerns, a Transport NI spokesman stated: “Work on the £500,000 investment scheme to improve Johnston Bridges in Enniskillen began on 22 June and is expected to last until October. Traffic flows in town are always sensitive to any changes in the road network and TransportNI is very aware of the unavoidable delays which arise with the closure of the Johnston Bridges to southbound traffic.

“The work was timed to start at the end of June as experience shows there is a seasonal reduction in traffic flows with the schools summer closure.

“Traffic patterns take several days to adjust to any change in the network. However, once flows become stabilised any necessary adjustments, such as modifying the timings of traffic signals, will be carried out.

“Night time working is not practical as the work involves the complete removal of the road surface from the bridge and it would be unsafe to have the road open until the works are complete. The proximity of residential property also makes it inappropriate for night time working.” He concluded: “Every effort will be made to carry out the work on the surface of the bridge as swiftly as possible to minimise disruption due to this extensive improvement scheme.”