Foyle Street to reopen to motorists ahead of programme
19 May 2025 14:29
NI Water Project Manager, Kieran Grant stated: “As a result of the excellent progress made by our contractor, BSG, on the infrastructure improvements, NI Water is delighted to advise that Foyle Street will reopen to motorists on Friday 23rd May, five weeks ahead programme.
“Resurfacing works are currently ongoing and are due to be completed by the end of this week. At that stage the road will be opened to cars and motorcycles but buses are not expected to return to Foyle Street until the end of June. At the end of May, some footpath reinstatement works will be carried out before the contractor moves to commence Phase 4 of the project at the Water Street/Foyle Street junction in early June.
“Some traffic management will be required during Phase 4 works to allow BSG to make the final connections in relation to these infrastructure upgrades.
“Foyle Street will remain accessible throughout business hours during the Phase 4 works and signage will be in place in advance to notify motorists of any temporary diversions. Phase 4 works are currently due to complete and all roads fully reopened by Friday 20th June. Once the buses have moved back to Foyle Street at the end of June, BSG will begin work to return the temporary bus station to a car park.”
NI Water’s Foyle Street project, which got underway in August 2024, involved the upgrade of the 100-year-old water and wastewater infrastructure between Shipquay Place and Water Street. Over the last nine months, BSG has worked to install 400m of dedicated stormwater (rainwater) sewer and new foul sewer - to separate this section of the combined system - as well as 170m of new watermain. Over 50 connections to properties on Foyle Street were also undertaken to modernise the water and wastewater network in this part of the city.
When complete in June, this £4.2m project will bring about environmental benefits – including reduced risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the area – and will help support localised development in the short term.
Paying tribute to local stakeholders and the project team from Arup and BSG, Kieran added: “As project manager for these NI Water infrastructure upgrades, I’d like to thank the local businesses and wider stakeholders for their support, both in the run up to this project and while Foyle Street has been closed. From the outset the project team has been striving to complete this critical work in the shortest possible timeframe and it is a testament to their efforts that we will finish over a month ahead of programme – even with reopening Foyle Street for the Christmas and New Year period.”
Acknowledging the efforts of the NI Water project team, Jim Roddy, Manager at City Centre Initiative added: “I am delighted that progress has continued apace on this essential piece of work and very happy to hear that Foyle Street will reopen before the end of May. I commend the businesses in the area for their patience and understanding since work started last summer and thank NI Water’s contract team for their efforts in getting Foyle Street reopened five weeks ahead of programme.”
Ends
For further information, please email press.office@niwater.com
Initial expected programme phasing for the upgrade of the water and wastewater infrastructure improvements on Foyle Street between Water Street and Shipquay Place. Due to progress made, Foyle Street will be reopened before the end of May with all pipelaying works finished by the end of June. Work to reinstate the temporary bus centre to a car park is due to commence at the end of June and complete before the end of August 2025.