Driver gets out uninjured as car fire closes Foyle Bridge for five hours
Police in Derry have said the closure of the Foyle Bridge for five hours after a car fire on Thursday was necessary as it coincided with a routine inspection of the span.
Widespread traffic disruption was sparked after a car caught fire on the apex of the bridge.
The driver of the vehicle managed to get out of the car uninjured and the emergency services were dispatched to the scene at approximately 1pm.
The bridge remained closed until approximately 7pm on Thursday evening.
The ‘Journal’ asked the PSNI if there was an operational reason for the five hour closure. Police indicated the incident coincided with an ongoing inspection of the crossing.
In a statement the PSNI said: “As Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) dealt with the incident, traffic began to build up at both the Culmore Road roundabout and the Caw Roundabout.
"Traffic also began to build on the bridge itself, which is currently undergoing a routine Principal Inspection by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), with temporary traffic management arrangements implemented, including lane closures, at different times during the inspection.
"The bridge was closed shortly before 2pm to allow for recovery of the vehicle that had caught fire, and for DfI to attend and carry out necessary work to make the roadway safe.
"In the meantime, police officers were deployed at both ends of the bridge to divert traffic. The Bridge re-opened shortly after 7pm.”
During the closure traffic congestion was experienced on both sides of the River Foyle.