Building bridges linking the Coney Island area to Ferry Reach is a non-starter which would cost more than fixing the Causeway, Government said yesterday.

The idea had been floated by former UBP Works and Engineering Minister Quinton Edness as the Island struggles with limited use of the Causeway linking St. George's to the rest of the island after it was breached by hurricane Fabian.

However Works and Engineering Permanent Secretary Derrick Binns said there was a narrow, rickety bridge linking Duck's Puddle to Coney Island which would have to be replaced to make the bypass scheme work.

Then a new road would have to be created through Coney Island as the road was very narrow and could not sustain heavy regular use.

Dr. Binns said at least one pylon from the railway days between Coney Island and Ferry reach needed strengthening if a bridge strong enough to bear traffic was going to be erected.

And lastly he said a new road would have to be created through Ferry Reach park and beyond that to Ferry Reach road if a traffic nightmare was to be avoided.

Such roadwork would harm the Ferry Reach nature spot, said Dr. Binns.

"There is absolutely no way you would want to put a two lanes through there. It's a park used for camping and recreation.

"If you put a road through the middle of it, even a temporary one, it would cause harm.

"The bottom line is it is not feasible."

Even though he did not know how much the Causeway repairs would cost he said it was clear from the amount of work involved that going the Ferry Reach route would be more costly.

He said the option of using temporary Bailey's bridges and single lane roads would not make sense because traffic would be unmanageable.

"It's a big, definite no," said Dr. Binns.

Premier Alex Scott said he had been told the same thing by Works and Engineering but added he didn't rule out bridges in Coney Island in the long term.

He said: "I thought, short term, it could relieve the Causeway.

"But bridging the Coney Island gap is, I have been told, as costly as reconstructing the Causeway."

Government is still targeting the end of the month for resurfacing work to be completed on the Causeway said Mr. Scott.

He said: "The causeway should be open to single land traffic with a paved surface by the end of the month. Dual carriageway by the middle of October."

But he said his experience as Works and Engineering Minister meant there could be some extension of the deadline.