Pic by Cop/VOSA watch
It came after Foyle Cup organisers and local politicians raised concerns over “chaotic” scenes and gridlocked roads resulting from restrictions on the opening day of the tournament.
The tournament organisers on Monday urged politicians to step in and lobby for lane restrictions to be lifted during the week-long tournament as 1,000 teams from across the globe arrived into Derry to take part.
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan raised the issue on Monday highlighting that the roadworks were paused for four days for The Open golf tournament which was being played in Portrush.
An NI Water spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed that several of its operations will be halted this week.
Said the spokesperson: “NI Water is laying new wastewater infrastructure on Madam’s Bank Road to support new development in the city, with sewer improvements also planned to get underway this week on Queens Quay.
“The projects have been scheduled to take place – as far as possible – during the summer months to minimise disruption to school traffic, and all traffic management is in line with the road permits issued by DfI Roads.
“Following the cessation of works last week on Madam’s Bank Road to accommodate The Open golf tournament, and the postponement of work on Queens Quay this week to facilitate the Foyle Cup parade, we have taken on board the latest concerns regarding recent traffic disruption and have been liaising with our contractors to determine what measures can be put in place at this stage to alleviate the congestion.
“NI Water can confirm that pipelaying has been stopped on Madam’s Bank Road for the remainder of this week.
“As of early Tuesday morning, traffic management on Madam’s Bank Road will be reduced to one lane around where the road has already been excavated for the new pipe.
“This will leave two lanes on Madam’s Bank Road, on the approach to Culmore Road Roundabout, open to traffic.
“Traffic management will also be removed from Culmore Road and Foyle Bridge for the remainder of this week in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.
“Pipelaying work will recommence on Monday 28th July with the necessary traffic management reinstated.
“NI Water would like to thank our contractors for changing their work plans at short notice.
“We also wish to advise that the postponement of these projects could push the completion of works further into September which may result in traffic disruption at the start of the school term.”
NI Water later added that an additional city centre project was also being suspended.
A spokesperson said: “NI Water has postponed planned works on Queens Quay this week to help alleviate traffic congestion in relation to the Foyle Cup. Sewer repair works were planned to commence on Queens Quay, between Harbour Square Roundabout and Queens Quay Roundabout, at 11pm on Sunday July 20 but were postponed to facilitate the Foyle Cup parade.
“Following recent feedback regarding traffic congestion in the city, NI Water stopped works on Madams Bank Road and has also asked that the work on Queens Quay be postponed until the Foyle Cup tournament concludes on Saturday July 26.
“The work on Queens Quay is part of the Culmore Trunk Sewer upgrade which has already seen over 1,100m of the pipeline relined between Foyle Road and Queens Quay to strengthen the sewerage network and help protect against sewer collapses, blockages and out-of-sewer flooding.
“NI Water’s contractor is liaising with DfI Roads regarding a new start date for the work on Queens Quay and will strive to complete the essential improvements during the remainder of the summer school break.”
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