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Sewer works delayed to avoid football parade clash

David Wilson
BBC News NI
BBC Glenavon FC youth players in a blue kits parade in Derry - there are two boys at the front holding a blue banner with the Glenavon badge on it. They are both wearing Nike-branded shirts with the Glenavon logo on them.BBC
The Foyle Cup's opening parade is set to take place in the city on Monday

Planned sewer upgrade works in Londonderry have been paused to avoid a clash with a youth football tournament's opening parade.

The work had been due to begin on Sunday at Queens Quay, with a number of traffic restrictions in place over a six week period.

But with the Foyle Cup's opening parade – which draws of thousands of people into the city centre – set to take place on Monday, there had been concern over the restrictions.

Northern Ireland Water has now told BBC News NI the planned works will not go ahead as initially planned.

"NI Water can confirm that it will postpone its planned works at Queens Quay in Derry by 48 hours to alleviate traffic congestion on the day of the Foyle Cup parade," a NI Water spokesperson said.

Work will now begin at Queens Quay on 22 July.

Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Mark H Durkan had said if the tournament parade and planned works clashed it would be a challenge in terms of city centre traffic.

The image shows a wide view of the two lanes of traffic at Queens Quay in Derry. Cars are moving in each direction. To the right and in the background are a row of industrial buildings, mostly made from red brick. In the foreground and to the right of the image, a warning singing alerting the public to planned road closures can be seem. Behind the sign a number of people are walking on a footpath
Queens Quay, one of Derry's busiest roads, will have restrictions in place for most of the summer

The work at Queens Quay is part of a major upgrade of Derry's sewer network and will see Queens Quay restricted to one lane during the day and closed fully at times.

In an earlier statement NI Water said it appreciated "work of this nature may be disruptive and thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we complete these essential improvements".

Madams Bank restrictions

Earlier in July NI Water confirmed traffic restrictions to allow for work in the Madams Bank area of Derry would be reinstated on 20 July.

They have been paused while The Open is taking place in Portrush.

Madams Bank Road is one of the major routes from the city into County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

Barriers closing off Foyle Street , a yellow digger is behind, and a sign is tied to the barriers notifying the public of the sewerage works The sign is light blue and has an image of a cartoon man carrying a teal-coloured water pipe. The sign has the title "Foyle Street Infrastructure Upgrades" in dark blue text followed by more details on the works.
Foyle Street had been blocked off to traffic for eight months

Earlier this year one of the city's busiest streets reopened after it was closed for eight months.

Foyle Street closed in August 2024 to allow for a £4.2m major upgrade to the water and sewerage infrastructure.

Traders had expressed concern over the impact of the closure on business in the area.