THE £4.7m Poole Bridge engineering project will not finish in June as initially stated, borough officials have announced.

Instead, the end date for the complete bridge overhaul - that started last September and was supposed to take just nine months - will be delayed until later this summer.

In February, Borough of Poole (BOP) confirmed work, while on budget, had been hampered by tough ground conditions.

However, it was hoped after contractors Interserve took steps to recover lost time that it could get back on schedule.

The project, part of a wider £23 million Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership scheme - to encourage economic growth, improve housing and create better access to and form the Port of Poole - has been hampered by a number of underground obstructions.

These include the remains of previous bridges, unchartered live and abandoned utility cables and parts of buried quay walls.

Dealing with some of these issues, engineers say, has caused "significant delays" to the construction of the Hamworthy abutment.

BOP growth and infrastructure head Julian McLaughlin said: "This is a difficult and challenging project and although Interserve has achieved a lot since the bridge closed in September, some elements of the project are behind programme.

"Interserve has organised additional resources and is working extra hours to regain as much time as possible. However, these unforeseen issues have caused the re-opening of the bridge to be pushed back from the initial June date to later in the summer.

"Once the major issues affecting the construction of the Hamworthy abutment are dealt with, we will be able to give a clearer indication of the anticipated re-opening date."

While no definite finish date is forthcoming, BOP has confirmed the temporary bus service arrangements introduced for lower Hamworthy will be extended until at least the end of July.

A revised lifting schedule for the Twin Sails Bridge has also been agreed to reduce disruption for mariners.

Cllr Drew Mellor, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, said: "We are fully committed to ensuring Poole continues to benefit from a two-bridge system to safeguard the future economic growth and employment opportunities in Hamworthy."

Meanwhile, interim Dorset LEP director Rob Dunford said the engineering scheme would ensure the long term future of the town's two bridge system.

He added: "Projects involving work under water always involve greater levels of complexity and risk and we are happy that Borough of Poole is working hard with the contractor to mitigate the issues encountered and minimise the delay to residents."

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR?

THE contractor, Interserve, has demolished the failing bridge approach spans, abutments and footpaths - the parts of the bridge that carry traffic from the land to the central section of the structure.

A new Poole abutment has been constructed and piles for the new piers have been installed.

More than half of the repairs to the retained steelwork are finished, and the off-site fabrication of the new steel supports is nearing completion.

Installation of the new wider walkways around the towers has started, as has work to replace the old control system.