Work could begin this year on Athlone Main Drainage project

Work could begin by the end of this year on the long talked-about Athlone Main Drainage project costing in the region of €100 million.

Irish Water said the wastewater project is now at an “advanced stage” and contracts could be signed by the autumn once the CPO process is confirmed and the planning permissions from 2017 are updated as they are due to run out prior to completion.

“Best case scenario we start at the end of the year, but the majority of work will begin in 2023 and it will be a three-year project,” Michael Tinsley, Wastewater Delivery Manager explained, and this timeframe is to take into account the seasonal nature of some of the work in terms of water levels.

The primary driver of the project, one of the largest outside of the major cities, is to improve water quality and address environmental concerns, he continued.

When completed, this project will significantly improve water quality in the River Shannon by removing non-compliant sewer overflows, long a complaint of the public and environmental bodies.

It will also increase the capacity of the sewer network, providing for future population growth and economic development over a 50-year horizon, and reduce the risk of sewer flooding in homes and business premises.

“We're coming to the end of the procurement process, we're tidying up some loose ends. We went through a CPO process and that was uncontested in the end. We just have to go through a process of confirming that, so the notification is being published this week...We got planning permission very early (2017) so we're not going to have the project built by the time the approval expires so we need to renew that, and the applications are going in this week,” explained Mr Tinsley.

The project involves the construction of new higher volume underground pumping stations in Golden Island and Coosan West, the construction of almost 3km of new sewers, and decommissioning and demolition of the existing pumping station in Abbey Road and pipework.

Combined sewer overflows will be eliminated at six locations along the River Shannon and replaced by two new overflows designed to Irish Water standards, protecting the integrity of the local environment, the utility said.

A noteworthy feature of this plan is that branches off the two new main sewer tunnels will be built under the Shannon crossing from west to east.

A tunnel sewer and associated shafts will cross under the River Shannon from the Bigmeadow Townland, between The Quay Road on the western side of the river to The Strand carpark.

Then a second new sewer tunnel will go from Deerpark Road through Athlone Showgrounds and the Big Meadow before crossing the Shannon and coming out to the east bank of Burgess Park in Golden Island.

Eunan Canavan, who is Regional Delivery Lead, said the majority of the pipes will be tunnelled underground to eight to ten metres depth eliminating much of the need for digging overground.

Asked about the level of disruption during the works, Mr Canavan said tunnelling underground will reduce that considerably and will revolve around work compounds.

Mr Tinsley said the first of two main sewer pipes will run almost parallel with the river from Golden Island north towards the railway, with a branch off underwater coming out at The Strand.

The second, almost perpendicular to the river starts at Golden Island before branching off west and coming out near the canal.

“It's well spread out and where possible we'll be tunnelling underground which will mitigate the disruption,” Mr Canavan said, adding that they will not know the sequencing of the work until a contractor is appointed and a construction plan is agreed.

Both Irish Water personnel stressed that there will be weekly updates to keep the public informed as the project progresses, and consultation with businesses.

Asked if the Strand car park will have to close to facilitate the work, Mr Canavan admitted it will have to “close for a period of time” to allow two shafts to go in there which will be a “number of months” but it will be flagged well in advance.

Another shaft will be put in Custume Place and at the junction of Abbey Road and Northgate Street, but Eunan stressed that they are “looking to minimise the time” on the works there.

The project will involve work in Golden Island, The Quay, Abbey Road, Coosan West, The Strand, Burgess Park, Payne's Lane, and the two Shannon tunnel crossings.

Irish Water hailed the project as a further step in the continued delivery of improvements to the wastewater infrastructure in the town, having already invested €5.6m to upgrade Athlone Wastewater Treatment Plant to cater for 36,000 Population Equivalent (PE), up from 30,000.

“It's really positive news for Athlone and a huge investment,” Mr Tinsley stressed, and more information on this project is available by visiting the Irish Water website at www.water.ie/projects-plans/athlone-main-drainage-scheme/