NI Water has announced that the sewerage system in Maghera town centre will benefit from a series of upgrades.

The works will strengthen the sewerage network and protect against out-of-sewer flooding. It will include some open-cut excavations and relining of sewers from existing manholes at various locations within the town centre.

In order to facilitate the works, traffic, parking and pedestrian management will be in place in the following areas:

1. Fair Hill/Hall Street junction (26 February to 1 March 2024): A lane closure and 3-way traffic lights implemented to facilitate an open-cut repair.

2. St. Lurachs Road (4 to 8 March 2024): St Lurachs Road will be closed to through traffic from its junction with Meeting House Avenue to its junction with Hall Street. Access for businesses and residents living within the closure will be maintained but may be subject to slight delays. Access to St Lurachs Road car park will also be maintained and the bus stops on St Lurachs Road will operate as normal during this section of work. A diversion route will be signposted for motorists via: Hall Street – Main Street – Bank Square - Meeting House Avenue.

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3. Bank Square (11 to 15 March 2024): A road closure will be implemented on Bank Square from its junction with Meeting House Avenue to facilitate an open-cut sewer repair at the end of the cul-de-sac. Access to properties as far as No. 11 Bank Square will be maintained but may be subject to slight delays. Access to Alex Scott & Son should be taken via Church Street. Pedestrian access to the Walled Garden will be maintained throughout the works.

4. St Lurachs Road Car Park (18 to 22 March 2024): A number of car parking spaces will be temporarily fenced off to facilitate the sewer upgrades within the car park. A footpath closure will be implemented on the pedestrian access laneway from Main Street through to St Lurachs Road. Pedestrian management will be in place.

5. Main Street and Coleraine Road (provisional date 25 – 29 March 2024): A section of work is also required on Main Street/Church Street and on Coleraine Road. This work involves relining of sewers by trenchless means from existing manholes and therefore will not require any excavation. The road permit for this section is still to be approved but we currently anticipate that this work will take place at night under a lane closure towards the end of March.

Kieran Grant, NI Water project manager said:

"The traffic management arrangements have been carefully considered in a bid to minimise impact and our contractor AG Wilson will strive to complete the work in the shortest possible timescale.

"Access to all businesses and residential properties in the working areas will be maintained but may be subject to slight delays and parking restrictions may be in place around working areas. Access for emergency vehicles will be provided throughout the duration of work.

"We would take this opportunity to highlight that construction sites are dangerous areas for unauthorised persons, especially children and we would appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that children do not play in or around the works or machinery. Working areas will have warning signs in place to protect the public from any hazards. The public are advised to stay away from working areas for their own safety."