Downhill rock slip second in a year

The event prompted Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) to impose a temporary speed restriction on the main Londonderry to Belfast railway line.

The Rail Minister Conor Murphy advised of the precautionary measure following the closure of the Seacoast Road at Downhill after rocks fell onto the carriageway.

The Minister said a wire rope rock fall protection fence constructed in the wake of a rail derailment in 2002 remained in place on top of a concrete crash barrier at Downhill.

East Londonderry MLA John Dallat asked the Minister what he planned to do to address recurring landslips at Downhill.

Mr Dallat suggested the rock falls continued to be a hazard to road and rail users.

The Minister replied: "I am advised that there have been two significant rock falls at Downhill in the past 12 months, the most recent on 31 October when rock fell onto the road and onto the raised bank between the railway and the road. No material made its way onto railway property.

"Since being informed of the rock fall NIR has imposed a temporary speed restriction as a precaution.

"There was a similar event in November 2009 when material fell onto the road at a different location on the Seacoast Road but not onto NIR property.

"At that time, Roads Service, with the cooperation of landowners, carried out works to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the carriageway.

"Following the Downhill rock fall and train derailment in 2002, NIR installed a substantial wire rope rock fall protection fence on top of a concrete crash barrier wall at the Downhill slope and this remains in place."

Mr Murphy also stated that despite not owning the cliffs Roads Service has, after discussions with the owner, engaged specialist services to assess the rock face at the location of the latest rock fall.

Works removing loose rock from the cliff face commenced on November 8.

He stated: "Consideration is also being given to the installation of additional measures to mitigate against further rock falls at this location.

"A number of options are being considered and final proposals will require consultation with appropriate stakeholders.

"Proposed measures at any location along this coastline must consider the impact on this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and must also be prioritised against the many other competing demands on Roads Service's work programmes."

The Minister said the extent and location of rock falls are impossible to predict though NIR and Roads Service continue to work together in sharing information on rock cliffs.

He said Roads Service adopts a risk based approach to managing the area with a three kilometre stretch of road adjacent to the cliffs at Binevenagh inspected for evidence of rock falls twice weekly.

Records are kept of all rock fall occurrences with the information reviewed regularly and action taken where there is evidence of recurring activity at specific locations.