Site investigation work to start on €113m Athlone drainage project
Site investigation work is expected to start later this month or in early November to confirm a detailed design for the €113 million Athlone Main Drainage Sewer Network Upgrade project.
It comes hot on the heels of the recent Cabinet approval allowing the massive wastewater project to commence, with construction work on-site due to begin in the first quarter of next year.
The utility, working in partnership with Westmeath County Council, is progressing the infrastructure project which is due to be completed by September 2025.
Irish Water explained that a detailed construction programme and traffic management plan is currently being developed to outline each area of works to progress, and this will be available in the coming weeks.
One of the biggest projects of its kind outside of the major cities, the scheme 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 works will concentrate on a number of locations in Athlone town, including Golden Island, The Quay, Abbey Road, Coosan West, Burgess Park, The Strand, Payne’s Lane and two Shannon tunnel crossings.
The works will include the construction of new higher volume underground pumping stations in Golden Island and Coosan West, almost 3km of new sewers, and the decommissioning and demolition of the existing pumping station and pipework on Abbey Road.
Sewer overflows located at six locations along the river Shannon will be removed and replaced by two new overflows which will be designed to Irish Water standards.
Then two main sewer pipes are to be constructed as part of the project, with the first one running almost parallel to the river Shannon from Golden Island north towards the railway, and the second one beginning at Golden Island and running almost perpendicular to the river before branching off west and exiting near the canal.
Irish Water said there are 18 storm water overflows within the Athlone town main drainage system. There is frequent out of sewer flooding in the town due to insufficient capacity within the collection system. Additionally, the collection system has insufficient capacity to accommodate future population growth, it said.
When completed, the project will reduce the risk of sewer flooding in Athlone and address non-compliant sewer overflows into the River Shannon. It will also improve the capacity of the sewer network allowing for current and future population growth of the town and surrounding areas.
“Our aim will be to minimise the impact on traffic, residents and businesses in Athlone during construction of the scheme. All potential and possible disruption will be managed by careful traffic management planning and by clear communication with residents and businesses affected.
“A detailed construction programme and traffic management plan is currently being developed for the works which will outline when each area of works will progress, and this will be available in the coming weeks,” the utility finished.
Although parking was "curtailed" at The Strand car park in Athlone last week, the local authority said the restriction was "to facilitate archaeological site investigation works" which are understood to be part of the flood defences project.