Legacurry Bridge to re-open within weeks
THE Legacurry Bridge is set to partially re-open later this month - five months after the road was closed following the sudden partial collapse of the structure.
Since then residents in the Legacurry area have faced long delays and detours on their daily journeys as work was carried out on the bridge which carries the Upper Ballynahinch Road over the Ravarnet River.
After uncertainty about how long the repairs would take, Roads Service has announced the bridge will be re-opened to traffic by mid September.
"Repairs to the bridge are now sufficiently advanced to allow one lane on the bridge to be opened to traffic by the middle of September with temporary traffic signals" a spokesperson said. "The contractor is expected to complete the remaining work by early October when both lanes on the bridge will become available.
"Roads Service recognises that this road closure has resulted in significant inconvenience to the local community. Motorists, however, are asked to be patient and allow sufficient additional time for their journey particularly when schools re-open."
Councillor Jonathan Craig, had appealed to Roads Service to open a single lane to traffic in time for the new school term and said he was disappointed that hadn't happened.
"Unfortunately the weather conditions have not helped as there has been flooding and swells in the area which have held back work" he said.
"Hopefully, before September 20 we should have at least one lane open with traffic lights, which will go a long way towards helping the bus route, which currently has a five to six mile detour on its journey. It is a serious inconvenience to hundreds of commuters who use it travelling to and from work every day and the opening of this one lane will be welcomed."
Residents living in the Legacurry area are still concerned, however, that delays will not see work on the bridge fully completed before early next year.
They say that farmers are also struggling with miles of detours as they try to work on their crops for the harvest.
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Weather for Lisburn
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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Wind direction: East
