POOLE Bridge’s official reopening has been pushed back for the SIXTH time, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The renovation project, that has already taken SIX months longer to complete than promised, originally carried a £4.7m pricetag.

However, this is likely to rise because of a catalogue of setbacks that had already knocked the official opening back five times.

Yesterday, the Borough of Poole (BOP) confirmed Friday’s opening had been cancelled and that the bridge was going to open sometime before Christmas Day.

The last hold-up was caused because of a delay in the delivery of parts, including timber walkways, which were manufactured in a factory in the Czech Republic.

Speaking to the Echo earlier this month, BOP head of growth and infrastructure Julian McLaughlin said: “We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while work on the bridge has continued. The delay over recent months has been unavoidable, and the contractor has had to overcome several unforeseen and challenging issues.

"While some minor work will continue into January it will have minimal impact on local residents. The improvements to Poole Bridge, coupled with the major resurfacing work on Blandford Road, will provide a better journey for those travelling to and from Hamworthy and especially those who wish to walk and cycle to and from the town centre.

The 90-year-old crossing was closed for a full renovation in September last year. At that time district engineers said the project would be finished by July - just nine months later.

Problems encountered by engineers have included a number of uncharted utility cables - including underground electricity lines - which had to be dealt with by adhering to strict regulations.

Unmapped remnants of previous bridges onsite also hampered progress, as did a section of buried quay wall.

The initial £4.7m cost of the renovation - part of a wider £23.3m investment by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (DLEP) - is expected to rise. The works form part of the investment in Poole’s infrastructure by DLEP, which aims to improve access into and around the Port of Poole.