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| Underpass defended after flooding | Underpass defended after flooding |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The project director of the company which built Belfast's Broadway underpass has said a design fault was not to blame for its flooding. | The project director of the company which built Belfast's Broadway underpass has said a design fault was not to blame for its flooding. |
| The underpass, part of the Westlink motorway, was at one point on Saturday under 20 feet of water. | The underpass, part of the Westlink motorway, was at one point on Saturday under 20 feet of water. |
| Its citybound carriageway is to open again at 0630 BST on Tuesday, the countrybound later in the day. | Its citybound carriageway is to open again at 0630 BST on Tuesday, the countrybound later in the day. |
| Leo Martin, of Highway Management Construction, said the heavy rain had been an "extraordinary event". | Leo Martin, of Highway Management Construction, said the heavy rain had been an "extraordinary event". |
| "To get a month or three-quarters of a month's rain in 12 hours is fairly exceptional rainfall," he said. | "To get a month or three-quarters of a month's rain in 12 hours is fairly exceptional rainfall," he said. |
| "No doubt the culvert did its job, it was designed and built exactly in accordance with specifications and put into practice. | "No doubt the culvert did its job, it was designed and built exactly in accordance with specifications and put into practice. |
| "But unfortunately you can't countenance for severe weather conditions like this." | "But unfortunately you can't countenance for severe weather conditions like this." |
| Mr Martin said there was still some water in the underpass and work was continuing to clear it and the mud and sludge with it. | Mr Martin said there was still some water in the underpass and work was continuing to clear it and the mud and sludge with it. |
| "We hope to be in a position, perhaps some time tomorrow (Tuesday) to open the road," he said. | "We hope to be in a position, perhaps some time tomorrow (Tuesday) to open the road," he said. |
| Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's executive ministers are to be updated about the response to the weekend flooding as clearing up after the deluge continues. | Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's executive ministers are to be updated about the response to the weekend flooding as clearing up after the deluge continues. |
| Traffic managed to flow without major delay along the Westlink. | Traffic managed to flow without major delay along the Westlink. |
| However, flooding on the railway line at Portadown has caused disruption to the Enterprise service. | However, flooding on the railway line at Portadown has caused disruption to the Enterprise service. |
| BBC Newsline's Julian O'Neill with the latest on the floods | BBC Newsline's Julian O'Neill with the latest on the floods |
| An investigation has been ordered by Roads Minister Conor Murphy into how the underpass flooded. | An investigation has been ordered by Roads Minister Conor Murphy into how the underpass flooded. |
| The minister visited it over the weekend. | The minister visited it over the weekend. |
| It is thought a pumping station beside the road was overwhelmed when a nearby river overflowed. | It is thought a pumping station beside the road was overwhelmed when a nearby river overflowed. |
| Repairs | Repairs |
| Hundreds of homeowners are beginning the process of applying for special compensation to help repair some of the damage. | Hundreds of homeowners are beginning the process of applying for special compensation to help repair some of the damage. |
| The executive is making £1,000 available to every flooded home. | |
| People whose homes have been damaged can contact an emergency helpline on 0800 707 6965. FLOODING IN PICTURES Click for readers' shots of floods Send your shots to nipics@bbc.co.uk. See bbc.co.uk/terms for conditions | |
| In County Tyrone, nine local farmers saved some homes from flooding by using their slurry pumping equipment to control water levels in the village of Beragh. | In County Tyrone, nine local farmers saved some homes from flooding by using their slurry pumping equipment to control water levels in the village of Beragh. |
| Some homes were damaged, but local SDLP councillor Seamus Shields said the men prevented an even greater disaster. | Some homes were damaged, but local SDLP councillor Seamus Shields said the men prevented an even greater disaster. |
| "They succeeded in pumping the rising flood waters to the western outskirts of the village main street where there is a sufficient downward slope to allow the water to escape," he said. | "They succeeded in pumping the rising flood waters to the western outskirts of the village main street where there is a sufficient downward slope to allow the water to escape," he said. |
| Nearly a month's rain fell in just a few hours on Saturday afternoon causing rivers to burst their banks in counties Antrim, Down and Londonderry. | Nearly a month's rain fell in just a few hours on Saturday afternoon causing rivers to burst their banks in counties Antrim, Down and Londonderry. |
| Brian Kennedy's home was flooded when the Sixmilewater overflowed. | Brian Kennedy's home was flooded when the Sixmilewater overflowed. |
| "The fridge will have to be replaced, the washing machine, tumble dryer - all gone," he said. | "The fridge will have to be replaced, the washing machine, tumble dryer - all gone," he said. |
| Environment Minister Sammy Wilson announced a compensation package for anyone whose home was affected, which will be accessible through local councils. | Environment Minister Sammy Wilson announced a compensation package for anyone whose home was affected, which will be accessible through local councils. |