NI Water has completed a £220,000 repair project on a critical section of a water main supplying approximately 19,000 homes in Portrush, Portstewart and the wider Coleraine area.

The pipeline, originally installed in 1982, underwent essential maintenance to ensure its long-term functionality and reliability.

The work focused on restoring metal support brackets on a portion of the pipeline that spans the A29 Ring Road at Sandelford Bridge. The repairs were part of NI Water's ongoing Infrastructure Appraisals Project, a £3.5 million investment aimed at evaluating and maintaining the condition of vital infrastructure across the region.

The project involved treating corroded brackets and replacing all support fixings, significantly bolstering the durability and lifespan of the pipeline's support system. This upgrade ensures a robust and sustainable water supply for the north coast.

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The eight-week project was delivered by main contractor GRAHAM, with McAdam Design providing technical expertise throughout the process. NI Water has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding essential services for the community through strategic infrastructure investments.

NI Water's Senior Project Manager Gary McFadden said: "NI Water is delighted to announce the completion of this significant programme of work, which will safeguard the water supply to the north coast region.

"In order to access the underside of the bridge, our contractor GRAHAM adopted a specialised underbridge inspection unit. This innovative equipment allowed the operatives to work safely from the bridge deck above, providing full access to the affected area without the need for riverbank access points.

"This inspection unit accelerated the delivery of the work and helped minimise disruption to traffic, resulting in the team completing the work ahead of schedule.

"Finally, the NI Water Project team would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation throughout this major repair work, which will greatly benefit the water infrastructure in the area for many years to come."