Update on North West flooding repairs

Date published: 11 December 2017

The Department for Infrastructure has made significant progress to repair the damaged roads and rivers in the area with almost £3.6 million spent to date.

Road network

More than 200 roads were closed or impacted as a result of flooding with around 60 being closed or reduced to one way traffic immediately following the flooding. All A and B routes have been reopened with the exception of the B49 Church Street, Claudy where a bridge has partially collapsed; only seven roads remain closed. All works have been prioritised and work will continue to reopen the remaining roads as soon as possible.

Bridges

Around 650 bridges were affected by the flooding and all of these have now been inspected. Almost 90 bridges have been identified as being in need of repair. This work will continue over the coming weeks and months to ensure the integrity of the bridges are maintained and public safety is not compromised.

Given the disruption associated with the Ballynameen Bridge, Claudy, repair of this bridge is being prioritised. A temporary footbridge has been provided to help alleviate inconvenience to the local community and water and telecommunication equipment has been diverted onto the temporary structure. The work is expected to take around seven months to complete. Road users are reminded to adhere to road signs and any temporary traffic management systems in place.

Rivers

Repair work has continued on damaged flood defence infrastructure and watercourses. Work to undertake investigations or pre-feasibility studies on watercourses associated with flooded properties at a number of locations including Beragh/Sixmilecross, Eglinton, Drumahoe, Burndennet, Newtownstewart village and Tullyard Donemana is ongoing. These studies will help identify if any viable flood alleviation works in these areas may be taken forward.

In the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, more than 2100 metres of flood defences damaged have now been repaired, including significant stretches on the Faughan, Burndennet and Owenkillew Rivers. Approximately 79 kilometres of river channel works have also been completed including reinstatement of river banks, clearance of blocked bridges and removal of trees and large shoals from numerous watercourses including the Faughan River, Muff River, Craig River near Donemana, Burndennet, Owenkillew, Cloughfin River, Glenlark Burn near Gortin and on Castlesessiagh Stream, Castlederg.

In addition, water level monitoring equipment that was destroyed on the Owenkillew River during the flooding has been replaced, while work continues to replace water level measuring equipment on the River Faughan. Water level information can be used to help focus the emergency response to flooding on the areas of greatest need and in some cases this information can be shared with community groups to help them be prepared for flooding.

In the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area, around 6 kilometres of river channel works have been completed including the reinstatement of river banks, clearance of blocked bridges and removal of trees and large shoals from the Cloughfin River, Glenlark Burn near Gortin and their tributaries.

The Department will continue to work with local communities at known flood risk to build resilience and has in place well established arrangements with other Departments and response organisations to provide multi-agency support to communities affected by flooding as required. DfI also continues to work with other Departments and partner organisations as the recovery continues.