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Five-hour bridge closure sparks criticism of department

News imageGetty An aerial view of Foyle Bridge. A large grey bridge between two grassy land masses. A number of cars are visible crossing the bridge over the River Foyle. Getty
The Foyle bridge was closed to all traffic for more than five hours on Thursday, causing lengthy tailbacks across Londonderry

A Stormont department has been criticised over the length of time it took to reopen the Foyle bridge in Londonderry following a car fire.

There was traffic chaos in the city for much of Thursday after the bridge closed to traffic at around 13:00 BST.

It reopened more than five hours after emergency services put out the car fire and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) worked to remove debris from the bridge.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Mark H Durkan said the length of time it took to reopen the bridge had "brought our entire city to a standstill for half a day".

"It is my understanding the police first called DfI at about 13:30 – four hours later DfI were unable to say whether or not someone was on their way or not."

He added: "We are supposedly the second city. The treatment we have received from DfI yesterday… was second class at best."

BBC News NI has approached DfI for comment.

News imageMark H Durkan, in green shirt, with grass and trees in the background.
Mark H Durkan says DfI has questions to answer

The Northern Ireland Fire Service (NIFRS) said crews were called to the Foyle Bridge in Derry at 13:00 BST on Thursday following reports that a car was on fire.

NIFRS said firefighters put the fire - believed to have started accidentally - out and left the bridge at 13:49.

DfI said on Thursday its officials subsequently arrived on site to remove debris from the carriageway and make it safe to reopen.

In a social media post at 19:21, police said the bridge had reopened.

'35 mile detours'

Gregory Campbell from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that some people had been forced to take 30 or 35 mile detours because of the closure.

"It was just horrendous. What we need now is DfI, from the minster downwards, into the department, down to local level (to answer) what are they going to do if something like this happens again?"

The East Londonderry MP said there needs now to be "contingency plans" that can "be operated quickly upon".

Traffic chaos in Londonderry after bridge closure on Thursday

Derry and Strabane People Before Profit councillor, Shaun Harkin, said the length of time the bridge was closed was a "disgrace" and "very frustrating for people".

"It created gridlock… that shouldn't be the case.

"We need to get an explanation about why there wasn't an urgency about getting the bridge reopened."

A structural inspection of the bridge has been ongoing since mid July, that includes a 30mph speed limit and temporary lane closures.