Over £1m in investment work is scheduled to start next week on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

NI Transport Minister Danny Kennedy announced that work will start on a £1.3m investment to repair and strengthen the Belfast bridge on Monday 22 August.

The Minister said: "This current work is the first phase of the investment and will ensure that the structure remains in good condition for the future.

"The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was built almost 50 years ago and carries eastbound traffic from Belfast city centre to East Belfast. The work includes replacing existing bridge joints and localised concrete repairs, as well as waterproofing and resurfacing of the entire bridge deck," he said, noting that the work will be done over the next eight weeks.

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While every effort will be made to minimise the disruption to traffic, some traffic restrictions will be necessary to ensure the safety of the workforce and the travelling public.

Two lanes of traffic will be maintained across the bridge, except for short periods when it will be necessary to restrict the flow to a single lane over two weekends during September.

Details of these restrictions will be publicised in advance on variable message signs, and announced on radio traffic bulletins. Information will also be available through the TrafficWatchNI information line on 08457 123 321.

The work is likely to cause localised traffic delays, particularly at peak times. Motorists should consider using the M3 Lagan bridge or the Albert bridge as alternative routes for eastbound journeys at busy periods and for access to the Odyssey arena for big events.

The pedestrian crossings at either end of the bridge and a footway across the bridge will be maintained at all times.

The second phase of the work will involve repairs to the underside of the bridge. This will be carried out over the winter months but will not require any traffic restrictions.

(GK/BMcC)