An ‘optical illusion’ kerb is still causing problems for pedestrians despite the council spending £11,000 to fix it.
The cycle lane had been added to Castle Place in Belfast as part of an environmental scheme launched by the Department of Infrastructure 2021.
Extending the footway into the cycle lane created an ‘optical illusion’ that caused pedestrians to injure themselves, council officials have said.
However, since its installation, which cost £52,000, the kerb has confused pedestrians and large barriers have been in place for more than two years.
The barriers were erected after a pensioner fell off the kerb losing two front teeth and suffered facial injuries.
To fix the problem the council spent over £11,000 last year on consultants fees to draw up proposals to redevelop the cycle lane.
Now officials will spend more money in the hopes of finding a solution to the problem, The Telegraph reports.
A DfI spokeswoman said that the barriers had been put in place ‘in response to concerns over pedestrian and cyclist safety’.
They added that plans are underway to install a permanent cycle lane at the location.
However, the problems remain and locals have called the large orange barriers an ‘eyesore’.
Belfast councillor Gary McKeown, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said: ‘It’s unbelievable that after two years and over £11,000 of public money being splashed out by the Department for Infrastructure to get some ideas about what to do, still we are stuck with big orange plastic barriers in the heart of our city centre.
‘It’s an absolute mess, especially when there’s wind and the barriers collapse like dominos, creating even more risk,’ he added.
Belfast City Council have been approached for a comment.