Sewer roadworks paused during Foyle Cup after traffic 'chaos'

NI Water has now paused some work in the north west following complaints

There have been calls for better traffic management in Londonderry after roadworks caused serious congestion on the first day of the Foyle Cup.

Thousands of people were in Derry on Monday for the opening parade and first day of the annual youth football tournament.

But there were lengthy tailbacks on the Foyle Bridge, the Waterside and onwards towards Ballykelly after Northern Ireland Water restarted sewage works.

NI Water said it had now revised some road restrictions and paused the start of further work in the city.

In a post on social media, Foyle Cup organisers described the situation as "chaos" and called on local politicians to "sort it out".

Road works on Madam's Bank Road resumed on Monday after a pause while The Open took place in Portrush.

The roadworks had a knock-on effect across many areas of the city

Work suspended for Foyle Cup

On Tuesday evening the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said it has now removed a lane closure in Ballykelly, so the road will "remain fully open for the rest of the week"

DfI said it had informed the Foyle Cup organising committee about planned works in Ballykelly ahead of the event and asked those attending to "allow extra time for their journey".

The department added that it has "continued to monitor traffic in the area" and has "taken on board the concerns raised".

On Monday, NI Water said they were laying new wastewater infrastructure on Madam's Bank Road to support new development in the city.

NI Water said that, from Tuesday, traffic would be reduced to one lane only where necessary, keeping two lanes open near the Culmore Road roundabout.

Traffic controls on Culmore Road and Foyle Bridge would also be lifted.

In a statement on Tuesday, the water company said it had postponed planned sewer works on Queens Quay to help alleviate congestion.

That work had been due to begin on 20 July but was paused to accommodate the Foyle Cup's opening parade.

It is now being suspended until the tournament finishes.

"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," the company said.

A decision on further postponing works on Queens Quay is expected later

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Eamonn O'Donnell from North West Taxi Proprietors said the tournament should be an "opportunity to showcase the city".

Instead, he said, poor traffic management had "created chaos".

"It was chaotic and a poor reflection of the city," he said.

"There should have been a moratorium on roadworks across the city."

SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan said the resumption of work at Madam's Bank should also have been paused.

"It is very disappointing this hasn't been prepared for, hadn't been anticipated and action taken to prevent the chaos that we saw on our streets yesterday," he said.

Thousands of young people are competing in the O'Neill's Foyle Cup this year

Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy told BBC Radio Foyle it was "disappointing to be talking about traffic" given the success of the tournament.

She said it was her understanding that the tournament organiser had met police and the Department for Infrastructure to discuss traffic management.

"I believe the concentration was on the parade and wasn't widened out further to roadworks going on there. Those are the lessons we need to learn," she said.

"All these roadworks are known, always out for consultation, but I think a ball was dropped by quite a few of us."

Almost 1,000 teams – some 20,000 players – are taking part in the Foyle Cup which runs until Saturday.