A scheme to bolster Derry City's water supply is making strong progress, with work on Craigavon Bridge currently running ahead of programme.

A new 300m watermain has been fitted to the bridge, and a specialist protective wrap is being applied to safeguard both new and existing assets from corrosion in the marine environment.

The pipeline works have been planned and delivered by the Farrans Glanua JV using scaffolding and a barge moored on the River Foyle.

This approach avoided any lane closure on Craigavon Bridge, maintaining two-way traffic and minimising disruption for motorists during construction.

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Supported by a recent spell of favourable weather and assistance from the Foyle Search and Rescue team, the project is progressing well and remains on track to finish by the end of September.

The supervised barge and scaffolding have provided rare access to the structure, enabling NI Water's project team to facilitate a visual inspection by DfI engineers of the city-centre bridge, which is now over 90 years old.

Replacing the watermain and installing a protective wrapping system on all pipelines crossing the bridge will help secure the water supply for almost 35,000 properties across the city.

NI Water and its team — Farrans Glanua and McAdam — have thanked motorists, city-centre stakeholders and those supporting the upgrades through health and safety and supply chain activities as the works move towards completion.

The team is asking all river users to take extra care when passing Craigavon Bridge, as this is a live construction zone with a working barge and scaffolding above and alongside the water.

The current lane closure on the slip road from Victoria Road to the lower deck of Craigavon Bridge will be lifted once the works are completed and the scaffolding is removed.