Relief as works near an end
IRISH Water say the job is nearly done as concerns about the timing and intensity of the work is raised at a meeting of the County Council.
Access for pedestrians to city centre streets, night time works in residential areas and the effects on businesses have been brought up in recent weeks.
Residents have complained about pipe laying and excavation works taking place during night time hours and have queried how permission was granted in such circumstances.
At last Monday’s meeting of the Council, Cllr Chris MacManus said he had received reports of children not being able to stay awake in school because they got no sleep the night before.
He raised the issue of private contractors receiving road opening licenses and the conditions attached to them.
“In particular, I highlighted the lack of consultation with residents or groups such as the taxi-drivers when the taxi-rank at Quay Street was closed.
“Of concern is the granting of road opening licenses allowing contractors to work through the night in residential areas,” said Cllr MacManus.
He was informed that all road opening applications in Sligo are applied for via a MapRoad Roadworks Licensing system which was a new, national application process.
Applications could only be made by pre-approved contractors to the website. When an application is received, the relevant council engineer is assigned it for processing.
The engineer carries out an inspection and assigns fees and conditions including any specific points to the area involved and these must be agreed to by the applicant .
The road opening licence is granted when all fees have been paid by the applicant.
Irish Water says over 86 per cent of the €6.8m Sligo Water Mains and Sewer Rehabilitation project is complete. All pipe laying works were ahead of schedule and forecast to finish by end of March 2018 in advance of the original contract dates.
Irish Water, working in partnership with Sligo County Council and Contractors Ward & Burke Ltd, again thanked the businesses, residents and shoppers in Sligo City for their continued patience and co-operation while the project progresses.
Over November and December pipe laying works were completed in Old Market St, Connelly St, Union St, Lower Quay St, Holborn Hill, Cemetery Rd., Bridge St., Stephen St. and Quay St was completed in the first weeks of January.
Pipe laying works are currently progressing along Fatima Avenue, Wine St (night works), Hyde Bridge and Lower Knox Street (programmed for completion by mid-February). Pipe laying works on Stephen St car park are expected to be completed by February. This will bring to a conclusion all pipe laying works under the Ward & Burke contract.
Between now and end of March minor works will be ongoing across the city and resurfacing works will begin mid-February to the end of March, weather dependant, on Wine St (night works), Stephen St (night works) and Fatima Ave. Road closures will be in place for resurfacing works.
Sligo County Council along with the contractor will continue to liaise with An Garda Siochána to implement traffic management plans so as to minimise traffic disruption.
The overall 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.
Irish Water says the separate O’Connell St Sewer Re-Lining project, being undertaken by Carty Contractors Ltd, is completed. Works have begun by contractors McGovern Plant Ltd. in the Ballytivnan/Holborn Hill area to replace a defective 1km stretch of ageing water main along which there have been frequent bursts over the last couple of years. Source Civil Ltd has been appointed as contractor for the Kilsellagh to Ballinode Cast Iron Watermains Replacement project which is programmed to commence in February and will continue until July. The works represent a further €1.1 million investment by Irish Water and will ensure an improved supply to all customers by improving water quality.