Northern Ireland Water Ltd.

07/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/04/2024 06:13

Essential pipeline connections on Meadow Lane reach the halfway stage as £7.8m network upgrade continues

Essential pipeline connections on Meadow Lane reach the halfway stage as £7.8m network upgrade continues

04 July 2024 13:07

NI Water's contractor, BSG, is due to complete the second of four major connections on Meadow Lane this week, with the next phase of pipelaying due to get underway in the Portmore Street area at the end of July.

The work is being undertaken as part of NI Water's £7.8m Meadow Lane Wastewater Upgrade and involves the installation of over 600m of large diameter sewer and the construction of a modern wastewater pumping station.

Speaking about the work, NI Water Project Manager, Lisa Hughes said: "We recently completed tunnelling of the 1500mm diameter sewer under Meadow Lane and our contractor, BSG is now working to complete the remaining connections to the existing network.

"Work at the entrance to Portadown Boat Club is due to be completed by Friday 5th July with the next phase of open-cut pipelaying and connection work planned to commence in the vicinity of Portmore Street towards the end of July.

"To facilitate the work safely, Meadow Lane will be closed to southbound traffic at the Portmore Street junction. Access along Meadow Lane from Thomas Street towards Bridge Street will be unaffected. Work is expected to get underway on Monday 29th July and be completed by Friday 6th September. During this time, access to Portmore Street and businesses on Meadow Lane as far as Portmore Street will be via Bridge Street/Meadow Lane.

"While this work is ongoing, access to businesses beyond Portmore Street, including Bannview B&B, McWilliam Car Sales, Portadown Boat Club, the service area of Tesco and the Range as well as the health centre and Baptist Church will be via Thomas Street/Tavanagh Avenue.

"A diversion route for motorists will be signposted and as always our contractor will make every effort to complete the work in the shortest possible timescale. Following the completion of pipelaying at Meadow Lane/Portmore Street junction, some open-cut work on Portmore Street itself will be required. A lane closure will be required on Meadow Lane to facilitate this work and access to Portmore Street will be via Thomas Street during this time. We will provide an update to residents, businesses and the public ahead of this section of work getting underway.

"NI Water and our project team from BSG and McAdam take this opportunity to thank the local community for their continued patience and support during the ongoing £7.8m Meadow Lane Wastewater Upgrade Project.

"This significant investment by NI Water is providing the necessary upgrades to comply with the requirements of the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency (NIEA) to reduce discharges to local watercourses and facilitate the closure of five Storm Overflows. In addition to these important environmental benefits, the new infrastructure will support future development and economic growth in Portadown."

Ends

For further information, please email [email protected]

General facts

  • The new infrastructure being installed and constructed will provide increased capacity in the network as well as first-time stormwater storage to support local development and economic growth and provide environmental protection in the area.
  • The project will facilitate the closure of 5 storm overflows on the network which will improve the water quality in the River Bann.
  • 620m of new large diameter sewer - to provide increased capacity in the network - is being laid by both tunnelling and open-cut methods.
  • The majority of the new sewer is 1500mm in diameter - almost 5 feet in old money!
  • The underground stormwater tank being constructed at the new Meadow Lane Wastewater Pumping Station is 20m wide and 9m deep and is capable of holding 1,500,000 litres of stormwater (rain/surface water) - that's the same volume as 18,750 household baths!
  • The new stormwater tank will provide better protection to the environment and reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the area.
  • 140 concrete secant piles - measuring 750mm in diameter, 18m in length and weighing 19 tonnes each - were installed in the construction of the new underground stormwater storage tank. If laid out end to end, the piles would almost stretch from Portadown to Craigavon!
  • At the end of May 2024 almost 40,000-man hours had been employed by BSG in the construction of the new pumping station and installation of pipelines.