A bridge in South Belfast could remain closed until summer as Belfast City Council assesses the level of structural damage it has suffered.
Brown Bridge which crosses the river Lagan at the Towpath has been closed to the public since it was deemed 'unsafe' back in December.
As part of works to bring the bridge back into use, Belfast City Council hopes to have a contractor on site by the end of March.
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Balmoral Councillor Micky Murray told Belfast Live that Council needs to ensure that public spaces are maintained.
“The Lagan Towpath is one of Belfast’s greatest open spaces, but it’s often left to fend for itself. In recent years, bad planning decisions have seen historical trees being removed and entire families of wildlife being displaced," he said.
"The Brown Bridge along the Towpath has been damaged for quite some time, which has now resulted in the bridge being closed to the public and it will need extensive refurbishment works before it can be reopened. Council hopes to have a contractor on site by the end of March, on the basis that the structural steel is in good condition and doesn’t need replaced.
"However, this means months of the bridge being closed, potentially into the start of the summer months depending on the extent of the repairs and the time it takes to carry out the work.
"The importance and appreciation of our open spaces have really grown, and we need to ensure that these public assets are adequately maintained and made accessible for the benefit of the public."
A Belfast City Council spokesperson added: “The bridge was closed based on an inspection which deemed it to be unsafe.
"Design proposals are now being developed to improve the structural integrity of the bridge and allow it to safely open. We would hope to have a contractor on site by the end of next month.”
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