“DISAPPOINTING, embarrassing and totally unacceptable.”

That’s the verdict on the waiting game for Poole’s £37million Twin Sails Bridge, after parts of the road surfacing fell away.

Contractor Hochtief (UK) Construction Limited, which has agreed to fix the defect, is still assessing how long the repairs will take.

Until this is complete, there is still no date for when the bridge will fully open to traffic.

Fred Winwood, of Hamside Residents’ Association and a former mayor, said: “Like the rest of the people in Poole I am bitterly disappointed that, having employed what we believe to be experts in their various fields, such a thing has happened.

“It is disappointing, embarrassing and totally unacceptable.”

Even reputable contractors should not have “total authority” and only have their work inspected at the end, Mr Winwood said.

“People have been more than patient with this,” he added.

“It is not just the bridge, it’s the whole set up that does not appear to be of the highest standard.”

Bridge champion Cllr Ron Parker said “teething problems” could only be expected when dealing with major projects, and he understood that the temperature the surfacing was laid at meant it was slipping away.

“It’s a very complex bridge structure and quite unique,” Cllr Parker said.

“But that is no reason really why the tarmac should slip.”

Hochtief are “very anxious” to fix the problem to avoid penalty payments, he said.

Cllr Parker added: “At least we are not in the Boscombe surf reef situation – we have a bridge that is 99 per cent working and it is just small amounts of Tarmac that did not adhere.”

Cllr Brian Clements, another bridge champion, said the delay was “totally frustrating”.

“I am as disappointed as anyone,” he said.

“My wife and I rode across the bridge on our electric bikes on the community weekend.

“Like everybody else I would just like to see it open.”

Jim Bright, strategic director, Borough of Poole, said: “It is disappointing that this setback should occur at the end of a successful construction project that will deliver huge benefits to Poole.”