DERRY is gearing up for a celebration to remember this week as the Foyle Maritime Festival welcomes tens of thousands of visitors to the city until Sunday July 17th.
As the excitement builds throughout the week the public are being reminded that there will be some level of disruption to regular traffic and travel arrangements in and around the main festival areas in the city centre.
And people are encouraged to heed travel instructions over the course of the week to ensure a safe and enjoyable festival for everyone.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Alderman Hilary McClintock, advised festival goers to check out travel restrictions before starting their journey.
“We are expecting a huge volume of visitors over the next few days and to account for the wide variety of outdoor events taking place a number of changes to parking and travel will be in place.
“These restrictions are there for the benefit of the public to ensure the safe delivery of the events and disruption will be kept to a minimum.
“I want to ask everyone to use the park and stride facilities during the bigger outdoor events, and to heed any restrictions in place, as well as instructions from the PSNI, stewards and council staff.
“The Foyle Maritime Festival will be a fantastic event for the city – so let’s work together to ensure this is a safe enjoyable experience for everyone.”
With so many people expected to make the journey into the city to enjoy the packed programme of family friendly activities, a number of facilities will be available to provide easy access to the quayside, Ebrington Square and the city centre.
In addition to the city centre car parks motorists are encouraged to use the Park and Stride/ Drop Off area which will operate at the Fort George site, accessed off Pennyburn Roundabout.
There is will also be a Park and Stride facility operating at Ebrington, accessed from the Limavady road.
Please follow AA road direction signage.
On street parking restrictions will be in place throughout the festival, and parking will be available at usual car parks throughout the city. Car Parking along Queen’s Quay will be restricted to allow for increased activity along the Quayside.
To facilitate preparations for the Voyage of Sunniva finale event on Saturday 16th July please note that there may be traffic disruptions along Queen’s Quay and a temporary road closure from 9pm – 11pm so motorists are advised to use alternative routes.
The Peace Bridge will also be closed during the finale event between 10pm – 11pm to accommodate the spectacular finale fireworks display.
Festival goers should note that the finale event can be viewed from areas along the Quayside as well as Ebrington where there will also be live music and a bar area.
At busier times during the festival it may be necessary to introduce additional traffic management and parking restrictions and the public are advised to tune into BBC Radio Foyle and Q102.9 FM for regular updates on changes to travel.
All festival goers should note that welfare facilities on site will include Information Points, ticketing points and toilets at convenient locations throughout the city centre.
All facilities will be sign posted and stewards and event staff will be able to provide direction.
For anyone with limited mobility accessible viewing areas and a designated drop off point will be in place beside McFarland Quay and dedicated staff will be on duty at all disabled access facilities.
Blue Badge holders should use available public, accessible car parking spaces.
Anyone travelling from outside the city should note that Translink are currently offering a number of discounted deals on bus, coach and rail tickets, so to plan your journey and select your best value ticket simply clickwww.translink.co.uk/foylemaritime/ or call 90 66 66 30.
For a full list of all traffic and travel restrictions and regular updates, as well as detailed information for residents and businesses who may be affected by activity during the Foyle Maritime Festival please go towww.foylemaritimefestival.com
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