Derry MLA welcomes long-overdue repairs for 'crumbling' Strand Road

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has welcomed confirmation that long-overdue resurfacing works will finally take place on Derry’s Strand Road.

The Department for Infrastructure has confirmed that a £680,000 resurfacing scheme will commence on Monday, February 16 2026, covering approximately 750 metres of the four-lane carriageway between Queens Quay Roundabout and Meadowbank Avenue.

Speaking following the announcement, Mr Durkan said: “Our roads right across the city are crumbling; the Northland Road, and the road network in and around both Creggan and Ballymagroarty, to name just a few. The state of the Strand Road, as a main arterial route into the city, is really symptomatic of the wider neglect in the North West.

“Not a day passes that my office isn’t contacted about the appalling condition of this road. I have continually pressed the Minister for action. The last recorded surface survey of the Strand Road was carried out in July 2021. Since then, the condition of this road has visibly and significantly worsened.

 “A year ago when I raised the need for resurfacing of this route, Minister Kimmins advised that the existing carriageway was in good enough condition to last until 2035. An assessment that was met by the disbelief of many of my constituents; the majority of this route wasn’t good enough to last until 2025.

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“Patching and excuses were never going to be enough. This road needed full resurfacing and I welcome the fact that this is finally happening. This work is welcome, but it should not have required years of complaints from the public and repeated political intervention to make it happen.

“The Department needs to re-evaluate how they approach road repairs and how they prioritise roads for resurfacing. Hopefully, we’ll see those changes implemented as part of the new Roads Maintenance Strategy. I will continue to press the Minister to make sure other neglected routes across the city don’t have to wait years for necessary repairs.”