Urgent repair work to a bridge along a busy Belfast stretch of motorway is set to take place next week with overnight lane closures as a result.

The Department for Infrastructure said work to replace damaged joints on the M3 Lagan Bridge will commence from Tuesday.

They said there will be a series of lane closures in place overnight between 11pm and 6am until next Sunday December 1.

A spokesperson for the department said lanes 3 and 4 in the west bound direction will be closed for three consecutive nights “following which lanes 1 and 2 in the westbound direction will be closed for two consecutive nights.”

“The eastbound carriageway will remain open throughout this period,” they added.

“Although the scheduling of this works is within the festive embargo period it is permissible due to the urgent need to repair the joints and to ensure the availability of specialist contractors.

“However every step has been taken to minimise disruption by conducting the work overnight under lane closures and avoiding an overlap with the resurfacing scheme on the Sydenham bypass.

“Completing the work now will also secure the structural integrity of the bridge and avoid potentially longer closures of the carriageway should it be delayed.”

They said road users should allow extra time for their journeys.