Athlone Main Drainage set to go to tender early next year

Westmeath County Council plans to put the first contract for the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme out to tender early next year. Last week Athlone Town Council voted to hand over certain powers to Westmeath County Council to allow for the scheme to be implemented smoothly, which included its powers for land acquisitions, specifically in relation to the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme. Director of Water Services with Westmeath County Council Ray Kenny told the Westmeath Independent this week it is the council's intention to have the first contract ready for tender in early 2011. Mr Kenny explained that the consultant engineers hired by the council had been reviewing all of the documentation relating to the scheme and will complete an inception report detailing what is needed now since the preliminary report was first completed a number of years ago. The engineers will give a presentation to the council's management team on February 16. The council will then send the updated report to the Department of the Environment. Mr Kenny said the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will involve five different contracts and it is expected the first contract will go to tender early next year with an anticipated start date of mid-2011.