There has been stalemate in Portadown since the decision to allow an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road on 27 September.
That morning, up to 1,000 people – including politicians such as Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill – blocked the road, preventing Orangemen marching from Drumcree Church a mile to the west.
Since then, residents have maintained a constant presence around the road while Orangemen have also repeatedly tried to march the route before being turned back by police.
On Friday night, Orange Order members again walked to police lines at Drumcree, as they have done regularly over the past two weeks, but were halted.
The chief constable said last week that the consequences of police forcing an Orange Order march down the Garvaghy Road “could be catastrophic”.
He had said while the PSNI’s objective was to facilitate the determination, this could not be done “at all costs”.
As of last Thursday, the policing operation over the dispute had cost about £3m.
The dispute has also prompted a police investigation.
O’Neill confirmed she had received a letter from police investigating protests over Drumcree.
On Thursday, police said they had begun issuing letters inviting people “reasonably suspected” of committing offences linked to the protests to interview.
Two weeks ago, the Parades Commission issued a determination saying that the Orange Order parade was to be allowed on the Garvaghy Road with restrictions in place.
That prompted a legal challenge from the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition which opposed the march.
The Court of Appeal is considering whether to allow a challenge to the Parades Commission’s ruling, which has been lodged by residents.
