A major £400,000 maintenance project on the M3 Lagan Bridge in Belfast will recommence next month, continuing essential works to replace bridge bearings, Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced.

Last summer, ten bridge bearings were replaced and a further eight are now scheduled to be replaced over two weekends in August from Friday, August 1, to Monday, August 4, and Friday, August 15, to Monday, August 18.

Discussing the scheme, Minister Kimmins said: "The M3 bridge is a key structure which carries over 90,000 vehicles and these improvement works are essential to ensure that the structure remains in a sound condition to manage current and future traffic levels along this key route.

"These are specialist works which I recognise may cause some disruption to traffic, however, this short term inconvenience will help ensure the safety of the travelling public and avoid more disruptive works to the bridge in the long term. "I would like to thank the travelling public for their patience and cooperation while these important bridge maintenance works are completed."

The first weekend road closure will be on the eastbound carriageway, from 9pm on Friday, August 1 until 6am on Monday, August 4. During this time the M3 will be closed between M2 Foreshore to Dee Street and there will be no access to the bridge from the M2, with all traffic leaving at Nelson Street Off Slip. There will also be no access to M3 bridge from Nelson Street on-slip during this period.

The second weekend road closure will be on the westbound carriageway from 9pm on Friday, August 15 until 6am on Monday, August 18. During this time the M3 will be closed from Bridge End to M2 Foreshore and there will be no access to the bridge from the A2 Sydenham Bypass with all traffic leaving at Bridge End Flyover. There will also be no access to M3 bridge from Middlepath Street on-slip during this period.

All work is subject to favourable weather conditions.