Chaos at Loreto ahead of big move
CONTRACTORS FOR Gas Networks Ireland were forced to reconsider their operations on Spawell Road last week when works on the gas pipeline caused traffic chaos at the Loreto Secondary School – just one week before they were due to move to their new site.
Works began on the road outside the school on Wednesday last and caused considerable trouble in an area which already had a substantial volume of traffic in the mornings.
With staff and students due to move to their new building at Pembroke Hill, Killeens, this week, many were wondering about the timing of the works.
Leonard Gray, project manager for Balfour Beatty, which is carrying out the works, explained that the company had about seven milestones to meet between now and April, pointing out that each road was a milestone and the company had drawn up a programme of works before Christmas.
‘We began work on the Old Hospital Road on January 2 and were proceeding along Spawell Road to the bottom of Hill Street before going over Westgate and down Slaney Street into Redmond Square. At the time we thought that route would have less impact in terms of disruption and we were not aware of the school issue.’
He added that the school’s moving date had changed a number of times and said the clash with its final week was a coincidence.
‘There was a problem on Wednesday and the council called me to say so.
‘We sat down with the school and came to an agreement not to start works until after 9.30 a.m. so that parents could get kids to school.
‘As soon as we were made aware of the issue we made a change. We’ve had no problem since but if there is one we’ll address it.’
He added that, on Thursday, there had been parent-teacher meetings in the school and the contractors had carried out works in a different location, to minimise disruption for that.
Mr Gray said: ‘We’ve laid 12km of gas network around the town and haven’t had too many complaints. We have to work with the local community and we do our best to accommodate people and deal with the issues on the ground. It’s a balancing act but that’s the nature of the game.’
AS SOON AS WE WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WE MADE A CHANGE