O’Connell Street to close in September
O’CONNELL Street in Sligo will be closed to traffic once more in September as Irish Water works begin again in the city’s main street.
Sewer rehabilitation works that were suspended last November due to what were termed “unforeseen circumstances” will start up once more.
The works will improve the condition of the existing combined sewer culvert that runs north to south along the street.
The majority of the project was completed last year with 510 metres of water main rehabilitated as well as the replacement of water main customer connections.
The remaining works include for the installation of the sewer liner on O’Connell Street. These final works have an expected completion date in November.
Working in consultation with Sligo County Council Irish Water agreed to wait until the autumn to recommence these works so as not to disrupt the main shopping thoroughfare during the busy summer months.
Further details including traffic and pedestrian manage- ment plans for these works will be issued to the local community and the media once available in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Sligo City Water Main Rehabilitation and Pearse Road Sewer Network is progressing on target for completion of all pipelines and temporary reinstatement works by May 2018.
Final reinstatement will be due for completion by December of next year.
The project involves the replacement and rehabilitation of approximately 8.7km of ageing water mains, the installation of 1.5km of foul and storm sewers in the Pearse Road area and the replacement of all service connections including any lead services encountered.
Working in partnership with Sligo County Council, Irish Water appointed Ward and Burke Construction Limited to carry out the project.
Works are currently progressing along Teeling Street and John Street with southbound and northbound diversions in place. The upgrading of four wastewater treatment plants in Tubbercurry, Grange, Strandhill and Ballinafad which will be carried out as part of one contract, is also progressing.
The main objective of the scheme is to provide immediate and long term improvement and expansion of the existing treatment plants.
The design, surveying, planning and complex tendering phase has been completed and is going through internal processes before it proceeds to contract award and build stage. Compulsory Purchase Orders ( CPOs) were advertised and an oral hearing with An Bord Pleanala was completed at the start of June.
Irish Water is currently waiting for An Bord Pleanala to confirm the CPO and expects to award a contract thereafter.
The project is a priority scheme for Irish Water and is included in Irish Water’s Business Plan for funding and completion.