Belfast's longest-serving councillor has said it is "exceptionally important" to get the old Boyne Bridge road back open soon to avoid a repeat of last year's Christmas congestion.

Jim Rodgers said that the traffic problems caused by last October's closure of the road have been the worst he has seen in 33 years on the council.

It comes after Translink told the News Letter that it is aiming to have the road re-opened to both pedestrians and vehicles by the end of this month.

The Boyne Bridge used to go over a set of now-redundant train tracks, and the work there has been to remove the bridge and flatten the road which ran over it as part of the development of the neighbouring Grand Central Station.

placeholder image — Work continues at the Boyne Bridge site next to Sandy Row in Belfast in preparation for re-opening of the road by December

The part of Durham Street which ran over the bridge will now be called Boyne Bridge Place.

Last year, amid gridlock in the city in the weeks that followed the road closure (something which was worsened by other roadworks going on elsewhere), UUP man councillor Rodgers had told the News Letter the only time he had seen worse traffic was "during the time of the Troubles when there were bombs hoaxes, bombscares, and actual bombs – but this isn't far behind".

He had said: "The big issue is that trying to get from A to B, a journey of two miles, is taking anything up to at least half an hour.

"It's terrible, dreadful. Some are indicating that they may have to close down 'cause they're struggling – all down to the traffic."

Now, on learning the plan is to get the road open by the start of December, he said: "I'm delighted to hear this news because it seemed to be taking forever.

"It's most important that everything is up and running at least a week, if not two weeks, before the really busy period over Christmas.

"I think the contractors got the message of the importance for businesses."

He added: "It's exceptionally important.

"Only time will tell how successful it actually is.

"I'm the longest serving councillor in Belfast – 33 years – and I've never witnessed anything like the build-up of traffic that we've been experiencing over the last 12 to 13 months.

"I realise it's because they're making improvements.

"But nevertheless, if we're going to continue to attract not just people who live in the outskirts of Belfast, but especially day trippers and visitors with so many cruise ships coming in, then that's one of the issues that people raise: 'seems to be an awful traffic problem'."

Last month the Department for Infrastructure rejected a request from Belfast City Council to slash bus and train ticket prices “to encourage the use of public transport and reduce traffic congestion” during the festive period.

However, Sinn Fein infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins said that while public realm work continues around Grand Central Station, she had “instructed my officials to advance a number of traffic measures to keep Belfast moving”.

These include extending the hours of existing bus lanes on a number of routes to the city, new smart sensor technology to monitor congestion, and keeping the temporary bus lanes in place on Great Victoria Street, Howard Street, Bruce Street, Dublin Road and North Street.