Northumbrian Water and its partners Esh-Stantec had anticipated the complex project would be completed by the end of 2018. However, during the final stages of the project, checks on a neighbouring pipe unearthed work that, if not carried out now, would have been likely to have caused future disruption.
Work is now anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2019, however, traffic management will be removed over the Christmas period and kept to a minimum.
Northumbrian Water continues to work closely with Durham County Council and Barnard Castle Town Council to keep disruption to a minimum. The initial project involves replacing 160 metres of water pipe, and the project includes a temporary pipe being laid across the aquaduct to ensure supplies are maintained for customers throughout the work.
Project Manager Gary Cassells said: "We very much appreciate the patience and understanding of customers during the course of this work and apologise for the delays experienced.
"We believe that by dealing with this other pipe now, while we are already working alongside it, we will prevent the need to come back and carry out a separate new project in the future.
"The work on the second pipe, which is approximately 100 years old, is also requiring a redesign and change in method to complete the additional pipe, as well as the manufacture of some specialist fittings. While this is all adding time, it will help to safeguard the water supply for Teesdale.
"We are in a position to remove the traffic management around this work over the Christmas period, from December 21 to January 7 and will keep it at a minimum at other times."
"We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that, for safety reasons, Deepdale Aquaduct, which is often used as a pedestrian footbridge, will remain closed. We would ask members of the public to continue to respect that closure and use the diversion that has been put in place.
"Our community portal at www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk continues to be used to share updates on the project."