Building work on a Co Armagh £5.3m public realm scheme is causing disruption across a busy town centre.

While Portadown remains 'open for business', until the work is completed in the autumn, there are long delays in the town centre in the morning and evening rush hours.

The problem is being blamed on excavation work in areas like Church Street and Castle Street and the closure of one lane of traffic at Castle Street to facilitate contractors from SIAC has left long queues of frustrated motorists in Church Street, Mandeville Street, West Street and High Street.

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The disruption is not just limited to the roads however. Trade is also reported to be down in many businesses with shoppers often having restricted access to premises where the busiest work is taking place.

One of the main bones of contention is that the contractors are working in too many places at once, leading to disruption and traffic delays in several parts of the town centre.

As a result of the problems, Craigavon Borough Council hosted an information morning in the earlier part of March to offer Portadown traders the opportunity to ask specific questions about the work.

The local weekly newspaper, the Portadown Times reported last week that James Carmody from SIAC NI and representatives from RPS who manage the project on behalf of council were at the meeting with representatives from the council as fuming traders were told the building works would all be worthwhile once completed.

(BMCC/GK)