Derry's O’Donovan Road to be resurfaced this year after complaints over potholes
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark Durkan has welcomed confirmation from the Department for Infrastructure that O'Donovan Road, in the Culmore area of the city will be resurfaced this financial year, following years of representations on behalf of local residents.
Mr Durkan said: "This is welcome news and after years of pushing for action, it's been a long time coming. Residents of O'Donovan Road have had to endure poor road conditions for too long. Navigating the obstacle course of potholes has caused frustration, heartache and costly damage to vehicles.
“DFI Roads has confirmed the road will be included in its resurfacing programme for this financial year and, in the meantime it will continue to inspect the road and repair any defects.
"While this is one road down, there are many more to go. The state of our failing road infrastructure is just a microcosm of years of Executive neglect, our roads represent that very visible neglect. They have been allowed to deteriorate, while people are left footing the bill through damaged vehicles. The road network in and around Creggan and Ballymagroarty has to be some of the worst in the region. I will keep pushing to ensure those areas receive the investment they deserve.
"Despite it being claimed that the work at O’Donovan Road would be carried out last year, this confirmation from the Department is a positive step and will come as a relief to residents of O’Donovan Road who have campaigned for action.”
Residents told The Journal they have been living with the worsening potholes for years, describing the road as particularly treacherous during winter. One local recalled a man in his seventies arriving with a spade and a bag of tarmac in a bid to patch the road himself.
Another said they were “disgusted” by the state of the surface and insisted repairs were needed urgently.
Claims for compensation can be made if your vehicle has been damaged due to a problem with a road or street and you believe that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is responsible.
Vehicle damage compensation claim form can be found on the NI Direct website.
The Journal previously reported that £2,460,091.03 was spent settling public liability claims linked to road defects in Derry and Strabane over the five‑year period between 2020–21 and 2024–25.