Flooded underpass to be examined

The underpass was under 20ft of water at one stage

An investigation has been ordered by the roads minister into how a multi-million pound underpass was submerged under 20 ft of flood water.

Conor Murphy visited the Broadway underpass in Belfast following the weekend's torrential rain.

It is thought a pumping station beside the road was overwhelmed when a nearby river overflowed.

"I have asked Roads Service to carry out a full investigation into the underpass' flooding," he said.

"The contractors are still working here and we will want to be talking to them to ascertain how it became flooded and why it didn't clear itself quickly as well as to make sure that this sort of thing doesn't happen in future."

A section of the central barrier of the adjoining Westlink had to be cut with angle-grinders to allow motorists to flee flood waters.

It is thought to up to half a dozen cars may be submerged in the underpass, having been abandoned by their owners as the water rose.

Meeting

Mr Murphy said the relevant agencies met on Friday after receiving weather warnings.

"As a result Northern Ireland Water was able to deploy resources and contractors throughout the event and around the clock," he said,

"Nevertheless, such was the extremity of the rainfall, that hundreds of homes were affected."

It may be another another 24 hours before all the water is pumped out of the underpass, and the road is reopened.

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