Cabinet approves enormous investment in Athlone's sewerage system
A massive €113m investment in the wastewater network in Athlone has been approved by Cabinet.
The funding will enable Irish Water to upgrade the Athlone Main Drainage Network.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien announced today that he had received Cabinet approval for the upgrade.
Construction on the project which has an estimated overall cost of €113.6m is due to begin by the end of the year and be completed by September 2025.
The Main Drainage scheme, which is one of the biggest projects of its kind outside of the major cities, is designed to improve water quality in Athlone town and its environs. It is also expected to significantly improve water quality in the river Shannon by removing non-compliant sewer overflows which have been the subject of much environmental concern.
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.
The move has been welcomed by local politicians with Fianna Fail Minister of State Robert Troy describing the investment as “hugely welcome”.
“This significant investment in local critical infrastructure will build capacity in Athlone and surrounding area to allow for greater population growth and housing, support enterprise development, and crucially protect our environment for the long-term.
His Government colleague Fine Gael Minister of State Peter Burke said the announcement was on foot of Athlone's designation as a regional growth centre by the Fine Gael-led Government in 2018.
He said such was the level of investment that it required Cabinet approval before the contract could be awarded.
Westmeath County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Aengus O'Rourke said it was an “eye-watering amount of money” which could “once and for all deal with our water infrastructure problems of today and future proofs our town going forward and for future generations.”
A Compulsory Purchase Order process to acquire lands and leaveways along the path of the wastewater project was confirmed earlier this year, while updated planning permissions were obtained from Westmeath County Council in June.
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.