Local councillors Liam McDaniel, Paul Hogan and Frankie Keena recently paid a site visit to the Athlone Main Drainage Project in Golden Island. Pictured (L to R): Bronagh Cullen (Uisce Eireann), Cllr Liam McDaniel, Cllr Paul Hogan (Deputy Mayor), Cllr Frankie Keena, Sean Greaney (Ward and Burke), Eunan Canavan (Uisce Éireann) and Tom Curran (Atkins Global).

Councillors given progress update on €114m Athlone Main Drainage Project

Adrian Cusack

Published: Mon 16 Oct 2023, 3:20 PM

Last updated: Mon 16 Oct 2023, 3:27 PM

Three local councillors were recently given an on-site update on the €114 million Athlone Main Drainage Project, which they described as "the most significant investment in infrastructure that Athlone has ever experienced".

Councillors Liam McDaniel, Paul Hogan, and Frankie Keena met with Uisce Éireann in Golden Island to discuss the progress of the scheme, which got underway earlier this year.

When completed, the main drainage project will increase the capacity for future residential and industry growth while also reducing the risk of sewer flooding and facilitating improved water quality in the River Shannon.

The local councillors met with representatives of Uisce Éireann and Ward and Burke Construction Ltd, who are contracted to complete the project on behalf of Uisce Éireann and in partnership with Westmeath County Council.

After the meeting, a joint statement issued on behalf of councillors Hogan, McDaniel and Keena said: "We were very pleased to meet with representatives of Ward and Burke and Uisce Éireann to discuss the progress being made to deliver this project on time.

"This €114m Main Drainage Improvement Project represents the most significant investment in infrastructure that Athlone has ever experienced.

"This project will increase the capacity of our wastewater infrastructure for future residential and industry growth, in line with population increase trajectories.

"The new pipeline infrastructure is being installed mainly using a technique called micro-tunneling to minimise disruptions to business and the community of Athlone.

"This micro-tunneling, which uses a specialised piece of equipment, will reduce the construction footprint while also assisting to minimise disruption.

"At the meeting, we raised a number of points that have been raised to us by members of the public and business owners. These issues include parking at Christmas, tunnelling under the River Shannon, accessibility, shaft locations and potential pinch-points.

"We will continue to liaise with Uisce Éireann and Ward and Burke to ensure that any disruption is kept to an absolute minimum in the months ahead," concluded councillors Keena, Hogan and McDaniel.

Work on the Athlone Main Drainage Project is scheduled to continue until late 2025.