New pumping main to be installed along Portaferry Road as part of £1.5m network upgrade by NI Water
16 July 2019 15:10
NI Water will commence the third and final phase of a £1.5m investment into upgrading parts of the sewerage network in Newtownards, with the laying of a new pumping main along a section of Portaferry Road commencing 22nd July.
The new main will be laid from NI Water’s wastewater pumping station on Portaferry Road, which is located at the floodgates and which is also being extensively upgraded as part of the investment, to Portaferry Road roundabout.
Pipelaying work will be undertaken by NI Water’s appointed contractor GRAHAM. The work – which is expected to take around 3-4 weeks to complete - will be carried out at night under a lane closure with traffic lights to minimise disruption.
Peter Ferguson, Senior Project Manager with NI Water said: “The laying of this new pumping main forms an integral part of NI Water’s £1.5m investment into upgrading Portaferry Road Wastewater Pumping Station and the associated sewerage network. The existing pipeline, which runs through the adjacent airfields, has recently suffered a burst. By replacing and relocating the pumping main, NI Water will reinforce the network and gain better access to its infrastructure in case of any problems in the future.”
Commenting on how the work will be undertaken, Mr Ferguson added: “The new pumping main will be laid in the verge where possible and will only come onto the road to avoid local business properties. NI Water and GRAHAM have been liaising with the relevant authorities and have scheduled to undertake this work at night (7pm – 6am) to minimise impact to local businesses and commuters. Access to businesses will be maintained at all times and traffic lights will be in place to manage and maintain traffic flow. The contractor will ensure that noise during the night will be kept to an absolute minimum.”
NI Water are currently completing the replacement of another section of pumping main within Westwinds Estate as part of this £1.5m project.
When the upgrade to Portaferry Road Wastewater Pumping Station is complete at the end of 2019, this NI Water investment will boost the capability of the local sewerage network and lead to environmental improvements through enhanced water quality discharge to Strangford Lough.
ENDS
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