O'Rourke welcomes Deerpark Road drainage works

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke has warmly welcomed the imminent completion of the €115 million Main Drainage Scheme in Athlone, describing it as “one of the most important pieces of infrastructure ever delivered for our town.”

The project, delivered by Ward & Burke over the past three years, is due for completion within the coming months and represents a transformational upgrade of Athlone’s historic and inadequate drainage infrastructure.

One of the final elements of the works includes the reconstruction and upgrading of the rainwater gullies in Parnell Square and along Deerpark Road — areas that have historically experienced serious flooding and drainage issues.

Cllr O’Rourke said: “I worked closely with Ward & Burke and Uisce Eireann in recent months to ensure that this crucial piece of work would be completed during this contract phase.

“For generations, residents in Parnell Square and Deerpark Road have lived with a system that simply was not fit for purpose.

“Because the old drainage and sewage network dated back to Victorian times and operated as a combined system, periods of heavy rainfall and high river levels led to stormwater and sewage backing up and overflowing through street gullies.

“These issues were particularly severe during the flooding events of 2009 and again in 2015, when homeowners endured extremely distressing and unsanitary conditions,” he said.

The completion of the Main Drainage Scheme now separates stormwater from sewage and significantly increases drainage capacity. As a result, the upgraded gullies will carry rainwater only, eliminating the risk of sewage overflow and greatly reducing the likelihood of future flooding incidents in the area.

“I am especially pleased for the homeowners and families along Deerpark Road who have suffered horrendous circumstances over the years. For decades, they have lived with the constant anxiety of the next extreme weather event. For the first time ever, they can now have confidence that the drainage system will perform as it should.

“Thanks to the combination of the flood defences and this comprehensive drainage upgrade, Parnell Square, Deerpark Road and The Park are now very well protected into the future. This investment secures peace of mind for residents and strengthens Athlone’s resilience for generations to come.”

I would like to pay tribute to Ward & Burke and all involved in delivering the project in a timely fashion, recognising the scale and complexity of the works and thanking local residents for their patience during construction.

This scheme has been a major undertaking, but it is one that will benefit our town for generations to come.