Safety fears over Queens Quay

Derry City and Strabane Council has heard Queens Quay may need significant repairs to ‘ensure the safety of users’.

The council was told about the issue at Tuesday's Governance and Strategic Planning meeting on Tuesday, during an update on the City Deal programme.

Chief Executive John Kelpie explained the changes that are planned for the nearby roads to prioritise public transport and re-design of public spaces.

“The current proposal looks at an option to completely remodel the roads along Strand Road and Queens Quay to split the traffic one way exiting the city centre along strand road and one way approaching the city centre along Queens Quay with bus priority on inner lanes at peak times, a phased introduction of that overtime and a remodelling of Harbour Square, Whittaker Street, Victoria Market and the roundabout at the Council offices,” he said.

“All of which is designed to provide additional access to enhance public spaces to drive modal shifts to enhance the experience for walking and cycling, enhance the environment, the commercial attractiveness of the sights along the river and indeed the experience for those who use the riverfront from a health and walking perspective.”

He explained that the plans are complicated by structural issues with Queens Quay.

“Members will remember and know the parallel issue of Queens Quay and the structure that is Queens Quay that roughly runs from Harbour Square down to the council offices.

“In the last report, it was updated that there were discussions underway with DFI as to how this issue might be addressed. It was becoming an issue that couldn't be taken forward through the City Deal.

“At this stage it's broadly understood by both council and DFI at this stage that the structural issue of Queens key is not appropriate nor could it be taken forward.

“[DFI] has agreed to undertake increased monitoring of the structure while advancing a process to complete a full investigation to establish more accurate assessment of the strength of the structure, followed by a review of a feasibility study and to potential replacement options.”

However, he added that there is no commitment yet to fund the remediation works.

“They do qualify everything, as almost everything is being qualified these days, with regard to the budgetary position.

“They advise, just for clarity at this stage, no capital budget exists to progress these works. We understand that but I think it is imperative that that situation is solved as soon as possible.”

Mr Kelpie said it would be a 'significant missed opportunity' if the remedial works were not progressed alongside the wider City Deal programme.

A letter to the council from DfI further explains the issue. It says a Structural Assessment of Queens Quay was completed in 2011 and indicated the quay 'was not capable of sustaining traffic loading'.

“The assumptions that formed the basis of this assessment were conservative in nature and further load tests were completed in 2012 and 2022,” DFI added in the letter.

“Both load tests indicated that the structure has significant load capacity above that reported in the 2011 assessment.

“However, due to the length and complexity of the structure along with the gradual deterioration of structural elements, the Department is progressing two strands of inspection and investigation to ensure the safety of users.”

The first strand is visual inspections from specialist marine engineers every six months.

These inspections will continue until a more comprehensive structural assessment is available, then a review of the inspection suitability will be completed.

Secondly, the Department has briefed its partner consultant to complete a full investigation and structural assessment of Queens Quay to establish a more accurate assessment of the structure’s strength.

“We are awaiting the Project Quality Plan (PQP) which will identify the volume of site investigations/testing, the timeframe for completion and cost of the proposed works,” DFI said.

“The PQP is expected to be completed in July at which point I would be happy to update [the council] on the programmed investigation and assessment timescales.”

DFI examined two potential options in a 2013 report: the repair of the existing structures and replacement of the whole quay.

However, a number of problems arose for both options: Whole life costs, practical engineering issues, traffic management, environmental restrictions, existing services, effect on local community and land acquisition.

The report recommended the replacement of the structure with a sheet piled combiwalled system as the most durable, economical, long term solution.

The suitability of this solution will be reassessed once the new structural assessment has been completed.

“Should the structural reassessment of the quay confirm its inadequacy and a review of the feasibility study confirm replacement of the quay as the most appropriate solution then the Department will consider where the replacement sits within our major works programme.

“Unfortunately, given the challenging budgetary environment, it is highly unlikely that the Department will be in a position to fund replacement of Queens Quay in the foreseeable future.

“However, the Department is happy to work with Council to explore alternative funding streams to enable this project to progress,” DFI added.