Plans to transform Lagan Gateway have stalled after the building firm hired to do the work went into administration.
Lagan Construction Group failed in February, casting doubts over a number of projects including Belfast's new Ulster University campus.
But Belfast City Council said it is working with administrators to see how they can take the £4.8million Lagan Gateway project - which aims to reconnect Belfast and Lough Neagh waterways - forward.
They were working alongside the Department for Infrastructure (Rivers) and Ulster Garden Villages to fund the impressive plans, as part of the Back to the River programme.
It is hoped that the finished work would create tourism, employment and community opportunities as well as playing a part in the river Lagan's development, from Belfast Harbour to Edenderry.
Lagan Construction had been tasked with building a new navigation lock, iconic foot and cycle bridge as well as refurbishing the existing weir and landscaping connection paths at Stranmillis.
Artist impressions of the finished plans are breathtaking.
A spokesperson for the council said: "It's part of a wider Lagan Corridor programme which aims to make use of the huge opportunities along the river, providing an improved public amenity for residents and visitors and encouraging a wide range of sport and recreation activity.
"Since appointment in late 2017, the project contractor, Lagan Construction has gone into administration. We're currently working with the administrators to establish how the project is taken forward and will seek to determine next steps in the coming weeks."
Lagan Corridor Project
The Lagan Gateway project proposes a number of structural improvements and development works at Stranmillis including:
- the development of a navigation lock
- an iconic foot and cycle bridge
- the refurbishment of the existing weir
- high quality landscaping with associated path connections
The total investment in the work has been projected at £4.8million, with almost half (£2.15m) coming from the council's Belfast Investment Fund .
Partners in the project include Ulster Garden Villages, Department for Communities, Department for Infrastructure, Rivers and the Lagan Navigation Trust.
It is hoped the work, alongside a number of other key projects along the river, will deliver benefits for the whole city.
What's happening now?
A design team came up with detailed plans for the Lagan Gateway Project last year and planning permission for the project was secured in JUne 2017. Work on the project started started on site in late 2017. The council had hoped it would be finished in autumn 2019.
They are now in talks with administrators of Lagan Construction Group and should have answers in the coming weeks.
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