Car park to shut for year due to sewer upgrade

Irish Water has confirmed The Strand car park in Athlone will close for 12 to 15 months to facilitate work on the Athlone Main Drainage Sewer Network Upgrade project.

However, it has vowed to maintain access to all properties along The Strand, and said businesses will not be required to close.

It comes just weeks after the utility firm confirmed it had submitted an application for a Compulsory Purchase Order to An Bord Pleanála to progress the scheme, which it said will “reduce the risk of sewer flooding in Athlone and reduce sewer overflows to the River Shannon”.

It will also allow for future population growth and economic development, it said.

The project involves the construction of new pumping stations in Golden Island and Coosan West and the construction of almost 3km of sewer network.

“It will also involve the removal of six existing overflows and the construction of two new overflows designed to IrishWater standards as well as connecting the new and existing sewer networks together,” Irish Water said in a statement on Monday.

One of the most eye-catching aspects of the new plan is the building of two new sewer tunnels under the Shannon crossing from east to west. A 235 metre tunnel is to be constructed under the River Shannon linking Burgess Park to the west bank of the river at the Big Meadow.

Then a separate 100 metre tunnel will bring sewage from The Quay Road on the west side of the Shannon to a new sewer in The Strand car park on the Leinster side.

Irish Water said recently that consultations have been ongoing with landowners, however, it was not possible to acquire all of the wayleaves and lands on a voluntary basis and has submitted a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to An Bord Pleanála.

The published CPO includes several pieces of land marked residential, three of which are in The Strand and the planning notices erected on-site indicates that they are for permanent wayleaves, which Irish Water defines on their website as a right of access to inspect and maintain the pipeline when constructed. The land in question comprises 0.0045, 0.0037 and 0.0033 of a hectare.

When asked how construction will be managed so close to homes to protect them, Irish Water confirmed that an innovative tunnelling technique will be used “that will help to minimise any impact on homes, businesses and traffic.”

“The tunnel will be constructed approximately 10m under the ground. Access will be maintained to all properties along The Strand and businesses will not be required to close.

“As these works are tunnelled, there will be significantly less disruption and impact than traditional ‘open-cut’ construction techniques. These works are expected to be completed within approximately two weeks,” Irish Water said on Monday.

Subject to CPO approvals, it's expected the contract will be awarded in the second half of 2022 and information events for businesses, residents and elected representatives will be held prior to the commencement of works.

“The project is scheduled for completion in 2025 with works in The Strand area to be completed over a period of 12 – 15 months. The Strand car park will be closed for this period,” the utility confirmed as part of the project to upgrade Athlone's wastewater infrastructure.

“The Athlone Main Drainage Sewer Network Upgrade project will safeguard the environment by reducing sewer overflows to the River Shannon,” according to Eunan Canavan from Irish Water.

Mr Canavan said Irish Water has already invested €5.6m to increase the capacity of the Athlone Wastewater Treatment Plant from 30,000 to 36,000 Population Equivalent (PE). These works were completed in June 2018.

For more information on the project, visit the Irish Water website at www.water.ie/projects-plans/athlone-main-drainage-scheme/