Drivers in Derry/Londonderry are facing continued traffic disruption as essential sewer repairs on the Northland Road add to a series of roadworks taking place across the city.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, NI Water said its Wastewater Networks team is carrying out a sewer repair on Northland Road, opposite Ardnashee School and College. The work on the Northland Road is expected to be completed by this Friday, 21 August, although NI Water said that remaining work in the surrounding area will continue until Tuesday 25 August.
The latest disruption comes against a backdrop of ongoing works on several major routes, with motorists already experiencing delays and lengthy tailbacks.
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has called on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to provide answers over the scale of roadworks currently taking place and their cumulative impact on traffic.
Mr Eastwood said his office had been “inundated” with complaints from members of the public about delays, with the Foyle Bridge reduced to one lane and works also ongoing on Northland Road, Racecourse Road and other routes.
The Foyle Bridge was closed in both directions to all traffic for much of Thursday last week, when a vehicle caught fire, leading to gridlock across the city.
Mr Eastwood has written to the minister seeking assurances that greater planning and coordination will be considered when multiple major projects are being carried out at the same time.
He said the incident had taken place against a backdrop of weeks of slow-moving traffic and delays across the city.
“My office has been inundated with complaints from people across Derry about the scale of roadworks taking place at the same time and the serious delays they are causing,” he said.
In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, a spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure said it “programmes all work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience”.
It added: “However, road users should still expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions.
(Picture: Mapillary)
