Maghera-based contractor BSG has completed the reinstatement of Foyle Street Car Park, marking the closure of NI Water's £4.2m water and wastewater infrastructure project in Derry city centre.

The car park was formally handed back to Derry City & Strabane District Council on Friday, August 22, following its temporary use as a bus station during the works on Foyle Street.

Meeting with local stakeholders to mark the completion of work, NI Water Senior Project Manager, Robert McLean stated: "As a result of the excellent progress made by our contractor BSG on the infrastructure improvements, NI Water was able to reopen Foyle Street to Metro bus services around five weeks ahead of programme which allowed us to reinstate the car park earlier than originally planned. 

"The work on Foyle Street has been a mammoth undertaking and I'd like to pay tribute to the strenuous efforts exerted by BSG, their workforce and their many sub-contractors to complete the improvements and reinstatement works ahead of programme."

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The project involved the replacement and upgrade of 100-year-old water and wastewater infrastructure between Shipquay Place and Water Street. BSG delivered 400 metres of dedicated stormwater sewer and new foul sewer to separate this section of the combined system, as well as 170 metres of new watermain. More than 50 property connections were also completed to modernise the local network.

Commenting on the challenges faced and the proactive approach to stakeholder engagement, NI Water Project Manager, Kieran Grant added: "The construction work, which commenced last August, was technically challenging as the existing watermain and combined sewer had to be kept live throughout the work. In addition, BSG had to negotiate a multitude of other services in the area to lay the new pipes. Innovative techniques were employed to complete the work to excavate safely around services.

"NI Water and our project team from Arup and BSG engaged at a very early stage with stakeholders in the area and put in place a dedicated liaison officer for the duration of the project. To show our commitment to working respectively, the project was registered onto the 'Considerate Constructors' Scheme and attained top marks ('Excellent' score of 45/45), highlighting the team's high standards in safety, quality, and proactive community engagement.

"I would like to thank Arup and BSG and the many other people who have worked alongside the project team to successfully complete this important work."

Over the course of the project, more than 130 operatives – including apprentices, placement students and engineering trainees – contributed almost 34,000 working hours.