Government is opening the causeway half an hour earlier to allow shift workers to get across during repair work.

And they are also offering a window of an hour during night repair work for workers to make it across the road which was breached during hurricane Fabian.

The road will now be open from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and again between 11.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed to cross after that time.

A Government spokeswoman said other disruptions were interrupting work.

She said: "Except for the approximately 250 metres near Longbird Bridge, the Government remains optimistic it will be able to provide two lanes of safe passage along the causeway, as well as usage by night, by early October."

On Saturday evening asphalt was laid on the damaged portions at the Blue Hole Hill end, providing one lane of asphalt from there to the severely damaged portion near Longbird Bridge. Wall segments were also replaced.

Boat operator Phillip "Phoopa" Anderson was forced to end his nightly shuttle runs in St. George's yesterday after his propeller hit a discarded engine.

But he said he hoped to be working again today shuttling people from Coney Island to St. George's town square.

He runs a service from around five p.m. to gone midnight.

He said: "You would be surprised how many people want to get home. Nurses, BELCO and Telco people, exempt company people."

Mr. Anderson, of Island Parasail, said he had been working solidly since Fabain struck for little reward. "I am taking five dollars but I really want to take $10 to level out the costs."

One passenger rang last night to praise Mr. Anderson's help in taking him to visit family in St. George's after the causeway is closed at night for repair work.

Marine and Ports Director Barry Coupland said his department will review today whether more needed to be done to ferry passengers late at night.