THE completion date for repairs to a major North-East river crossing and landmark has been put back to the end of March.

Work began on a £2m refurbishment of Wearmouth Bridge, in Sunderland, in May, and it was thought the work would be finished next month.

Contractors Pyeroy, giving the bridge its first repaint and waterproofing in a decade, have been delayed by recent bad weather.

That resulted in painting above the deck falling behind schedule and the latest estimated completion date is late March, more than ten months after the start of the project.

City council development and regeneration director Phil Barrett said that while the delay was regrettable, the majority of traffic restrictions on the main A1018 crossing of the River Wear, were lifted by the end of September when the bridge re-opened to four lanes of traffic.

But delays are at a peak when Sunderland Football Club play at the Stadium of Light, just north of the river. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction due to the large number of pedestrians using the bridge.

Mr Barrett said: "It was planned that roadworks and painting of steelwork above the bridge deck would be complete and traffic restrictions would be eased by the end of October.

"Traffic restrictions were largely lifted on Saturday, September 28, when the bridge was re-opened to two lanes of traffic each way.

"Since then, other than for traffic management in the interests of pedestrian safety for Sunderland AFC home fixtures, disruption and delays have been minimal.

"Contractors anticipate work should be completed by the end of March."

* All four lanes of the bridge will be open to traffic for most of today, but two-lane restrictions will be put in place before Sunderland's FA Cup tie against Bolton, taking place tonight.