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Passengers flying out of Belfast City Airport have been warned to leave themselves more time to get to there due to roadworks on the Sydenham Bypass.

There was heavy congestion last weekend after roadworks began on the £3.8 million resurfacing project on the road in east Belfast.

The work is due to take five months, with closure dates currently announced until 25 November before a break in the run-up to Christmas.

The road is closed in both directions from 22:00 to 06:00 from Mondays to Thursday and then closed citybound each weekend from 22:00 on Fridays to 06:00 on Mondays.

The airport said it appreciated passengers being patient while the work was carried out.

'Closures only when necessary'

Colin Woods, from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), told ����ý News NI closures would only happen when they were "absolutely necessary."

"It is extremely important to us to keep the workers on site safe and to allow the works to be completed safely and efficiently," he said.

The DfI also said that once the work was finished the resurfaced road would offer a smoother and more durable surface.

"The majority of the scheme is expected to be completed ahead of the Christmas period when the road will remain open, however more closures may be required in the new year," a spokesperson added.

When the road is closed, the DfI said a diversionary route would be clearly signposted via the Holywood Road, Newtownards Road and Bridge End.

An alternative route will also be available via Holywood Exchange, Airport Road and Sydenham Road.

Alternative routes will also be signposted for cyclists and pedestrians.

Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd defended his department following complaints about the traffic congestion on the first weekend of work.

The Sinn Féin minister told the Stormont Assembly on Monday that he acknowledged there had been issues resulting from work on the Sydenham Bypass and the new Grand Central Station.

But he said that people in rural areas would be "aghast that people are complaining about getting £3.2 million spent in their area".

"There are always circumstances where public transport is not suitable but when you are sitting in traffic, perhaps one question we need to ask ourselves is could we use public transport?" he said.

“Because when you are sitting in traffic, you are the traffic."