MOTORISTS will now have to wait a year before the work at Johnston Bridge is fully completed after Transport Northern Ireland said it intended to defer finishing part two of the project until next summer.

The work on Johnston Bridge North involves the complete removal of the road surfacing and the installation of a new water proof coating along with repairs to the underside of the bridge. Work on Johnston Bridge South which had been planned to follow on from the work at the north bridge has now been deferred to allow a further review of the timing and management of the scheme.

The effect of these changes will mean that the Cornagrade Road will reopen to two way traffic by August 27 or earlier if possible.

Mr. Conor Loughrey, the divisional manager for Transport NI, told a special meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on Tuesday night that the work is complicated by the presence of utilities below the road surface, such as BT fibre optic phone cables, meaning the delicate nature of the work has had to be carried out manually.

Mr. Loughrey told the meeting at Enniskillen Townhall that the work this year and next must progress to avoid imposing a weight restriction on the bridge.

“The bridge is over 60 years old and has deteriorated. An assessment in May concluded that investment was needed to extend the life of the bridge without restricting the weight of traffic going over it,” Mr. Loughrey told councillors.

Motorists have been caught in considerable tailbacks in Enniskillen as a result of the road works and lane closure at Johnston Bridge, particularly along the Irvinestown Road. But drivers could face similar disruption next summer if contractors resume the scheme.

Ulster Unionist Councillor Rosemary Barton told Tuesday night’s meeting that lessons needed to be learned from the project and asked if the contractors could work longer hours next year.

Both Ulster Unionist Councillor Harold Thornton and the SDLP’s Patricia Rogers also pushed Mr. Loughrey on the prospect of the contractor working longer hours.

“If there are lessons to be learned we will review all of that,” said Mr. Loughrey.

“The phones have been ringing hot,” said DUP Councillor Keith Elliott. “If the second stage is taking place next summer, can it be delayed until the children have gone back to school? At the beginning of this work the traffic was terrible. There were some people stuck in tailbacks for up to an hour. There has been a lot of disruption to a lot of people,” he said.

“But at the same time I understand that the work has to be done. What’s the alternative? The bridge falling down? The bridge needs to be repaired,” added Councillor Elliott.

A spokesman for Transport NI told this newspaper yesterday: “Transport NI commenced repair work on the north bridge in June and considered an option to commence work on the south bridge immediately after work to the north bridge is completed. However, taking into consideration the nature of the work and the impact it would have on traffic, work on the south bridge has now been scheduled hopefully for summer next year.”