Lane closures on the Craigavon Bridge will be required to remove scaffolding and barriers as part of a £2.5m work programme to safeguard Derry City’s water supply for the next 25 years.

NI Water have confirmed a wrapping system has now successfully been applied to the Strand Road Trunk Main – a large watermain that crosses the Craigavon Bridge to the city side – under phase one of the works.

Scaffolding put in place to facilitate this is due to be removed next week.

A one-way closure will be in place on the Craigavon Bridge from the Foyle Road Junction to Duke Street Junction, daily from 9am to 5pm from Monday, February 9 to Friday, February 13.

In order to remove scaffolding after the successful completion of phase one of the project, a one-way closure will be in place on the Craigavon Bridge from the Foyle Road Junction to Duke Street Junction, daily from 09:00 to 17:00 from Monday 9th February to: Fri 13th February.

placeholder image — In order to remove scaffolding after the successful completion of phase one of the project, a one-way closure will be in place on the Craigavon Bridge from the Foyle Road Junction to Duke Street Junction, daily from 09:00 to 17:00 from Monday 9th February to: Fri 13th February.

An alternative route will be signposted, with traffic being diverted via Foyle Road, Foyle embankment or via the upper deck of Craigavon Bridge and Duke Street, NI Water said.

Before that a barrier on the lower deck of the bridge is due to be removed this weekend.

A road closure will also be in place from the Foyle Road Junction to Duke Street Junction, which will require an overnight closure from Friday, February 6 to Saturday, February 7.

Separately, a joint Farrans/NI Water Health & Safety Training Day is due to also take place at the Craigavon Bridge on February 6.

Burst Watermain on the Craigavon Bridge last year. These improvements will help prevent further bursts, improving the security of the water supply.

The event will include a staged rescue by Foyle Search and Rescue Service. There will be increased activity on the bridge on this day, as the team complete a training exercise and not an active rescue.

"This major scheme is an important investment in the future security of the city’s drinking water network. Improvements to the main will reduce the risk of bursts and interruptions, helping to keep water flowing, when demand is high or during adverse weather conditions.

“NI Water and our project team including contractor Farrans would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we continue work on this essential project,” said the utility provider.

Farrans Construction stated: “We are delivering lots of great work for Northern Ireland Water including £2.5 million improvement works to safeguard Derry-Londonderry’s water supply for the next 25 years.

A leak from the water main on the Craigavon Bridge in January 2025.

“This major scheme at Craigavon Bridge is progressing well and it is an important investment in the future security of the city’s drinking water network. Improvements to the main will reduce the risk of bursts and interruptions, helping to keep water flowing, when demand is high or during adverse weather conditions.”

Last year it was confirmed that a decision had been taken to wrap the Strand Road Trunk Main, a process that is much less disruptive than replacing it wholesale.

The new wrapping system, said NI Water, will protect against corrosion in a marine/saltwater environment and help ensure the future security of the water supply.

Phase one has now been completed with attention set to turn to the replacement of the larger Corrody to Creggan Trunk Main, which supplies Creggan with drinking water.

NI Water says this has seen a significant number of bursts in recent times.

Its replacement under phase two of the £2.5m work programme will safeguard the security of supply to almost 35,000 properties in the city.

Phase two is scheduled to get underway in the spring.