NI Water is getting ready to start the second and final phase of a £5 million investment to refurbish century-old wastewater infrastructure at Lanyon Quay in Belfast city centre.

The latest phase of work – which will get underway at the end of March - will see the relining of the Queen’s Bridge Siphons (sewers), which run under the River Lagan between Lanyon Quay and Greggs Quay.

The two 1.15m diameter siphons have been in operation since the early 1900s and transfer wastewater from a large section of east Belfast to Lanyon Quay, from where it is conveyed to Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works in Duncrue.

The relining process will be carried out from the new chamber at Lanyon Quay using specialist trenchless techniques. Work is estimated to be complete around the end of July and will be carried out by Murphy Dawson-WAM JV, with project management provided by Atkins.

NI Water Senior Project Manager, Robert McLean said:

“The Queen’s Bridge Siphons and the associated chambers in the area were in need of extensive repair to safeguard their future operation. As part of phase one works, NI Water refurbished chambers at Greggs Quay and Oxford Street and constructed a 9m deep chamber at Lanyon Quay to facilitate future maintenance work, including the removal of blockages within the siphons to prevent flooding. The relining of the siphons will augment the refurbishment work done to date and provide this area of Belfast with a more robust wastewater network.”

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said:

“These essential works will deliver upgraded sewerage infrastructure for people living and working in the Belfast area.”

The water company described the investment at Queen’s Bridge Siphons as “an excellent example of what can be done when the necessary funding is in place.”