Residents living on the gateway between South and West Belfast have called for the "ugliest bridge in Ireland" to be transformed following a 10-year campaign.
The Finaghy Railway Bridge was created in 2008 and since then it has been branded a "brutalist eyesore" that people believe looks like something from World War Two.
For over 10 years residents and local representatives have been calling on the Department for Infrastructure to redesign and change the bridge into something that the community is able to enjoy.
Regularly covered with graffiti, residents say that it has become a blight on the area.
Balmoral Sinn Fein councillor Geraldine McAteer said that even during the Covid pandemic, it has been the number one cause of concern when contacted by constituents.
Finaghy resident Ms Millar said that the community has been calling for the bridge to be transformed since its creation, saying that it is like something "you would see in East Berlin after the war".
She said: "For years residents have been calling for something to be done about this brutal and ugly bridge, but nothing ever seems to happen.
"For years we have had politicians making promises to us about it prior to elections and then afterwards it seems to be forgotten about.
"This has been going on for over 10 years and local residents are sick and tired of having this horrendous bridge in the middle of our community. It is constantly covered in graffiti and whenever that is cleared it just creates a blank canvas for more of it.
"We are tired of hearing promises only for them not to be delivered on time and time."
Another resident, Paddy Davidson, said that the bridge was having an impact on the local community and businesses, along with creating an unattractive gateway from South to West Belfast.
He said: "It is a disgrace that despite the efforts of local residents and politicians, this bridge is still the eyesore that it has been for a decade.
"This is a popular road and is the gateway leading from South to West Belfast and should be a positive thing for the area, rather than something that upsets a large amount of the community.
"If the bridge was properly re-designed it could help to encourage more people into the local centre and Finaghy crossroads, providing a boost to local businesses and people wanting to visit them. I cannot believe that this has been going on for so long."
Councillor McAteer said that she has been dealing with three different Infrastructure Ministers during her time helping residents campaign for the transformation of the bridge.
She said that money had been acquired in 2019 for a feasibility study and that it is now with the Department and Belfast City Council to come up with a detailed design.
She said: "The department has been sitting on their hands about doing something to address the problems with this bridge. A feasibility study was approved in July of last year, but since then there has been no action.
"Even during the Covid pandemic, this is the number one issue that I have been contacted about by local residents who are so frustrated at nothing being done for years to transform the bridge.
"Belfast is full of a wealth of talent with regards to design, architecture and engineering, so we have the ability to come up with something much better that does not look like it is from World War Two.
"The Department just needs to start to take action and do something that will be hugely welcomed by the community here in South and West Belfast.
"I have been told that it could be the next financial year before anything starts, which I feel is just not on given that we are sending £100million back to Westminster because it hasn't been spent. The work on this bridge would be a fraction of that sum and it should be used for the people of Belfast rather than being sent back."
A council spokesperson said: "Belfast City Council has ring-fenced £30,000 Local Investment Funding for improvements to Finaghy Bridge and has been working together with DfI Roads, as asset owner, on options that meet their statutory requirements for bridges.
"A technical feasibility report has been completed with a number of options being identified. This report is currently being considered by DFI Roads. We await further engagement with DfI Roads on potential funding and selection of a preferred option.
"Once the project scope is confirmed, further community engagement will take place and the Local Investment Funding process can begin.”
A Department for infrastructure spokesperson said: “The Department is very aware that this is this is a significant project for the local community who have a vested interest in its completion and therefore is currently working with Belfast City Council to develop proposals to improve the appearance of the Finaghy Railway bridge.
"A detailed design for the recladding of the parapets is planned with this design work scheduled to be taken forward in the 2022/23 financial year.
"When the detailed design and costings are available the Department will be contacting Belfast City Council to arrange meetings and engagement with residents, businesses and locally elected representatives in order to discuss the next steps and design options for the bridge.”
