Essential NI Water Pipelaying work to support housing development in Newtownabbey Continues

Work is currently underway on a new storm sewer on a section of Mallusk Road and Hightown Road, Newtownabbey and will take approximately 8 weeks to complete.

The project – which is required to serve a sizeable new housing development - commenced in September 2022, but work was postponed to facilitate a roads scheme and reduce disruption in the area. 

Work has now recommenced to install the remaining section of a 640m-long storm water pipe on a short section of Mallusk Road and along the Hightown Road to the new housing development located adjacent to Glen Manor Avenue on Hightown Road.

NI Water Project Manager, Ian O’Hare commented:

“The NI Water project team appreciate this work is disruptive and recently held a positive meeting with local representatives to update them on traffic management arrangements.

“Working hours have been scheduled to ensure that this essential project - required to support the development of over 120 houses in the area - can be completed as quickly as possible.

“In order to carry out the work as safely as possible, a temporary lane closure is in place around the pipelaying area. As the works progress along the Mallusk and Hightown Roads, two-way traffic will be maintained with the use of temporary signals.

“In a bid to minimise the impact of these works, our contractor, AG Wilson is undertaking the pipelaying in short sections and reinstating each section of trench as they move along. While it is hoped that this approach will help to minimise traffic queues, we would advise the public to allow extra time for their journeys during this work or consider an alternative route.

“Normal working hours will be 07:30am to 5:00pm; however, longer working hours will be employed where possible in a bid to complete the work in a shorter timeframe.

“Signage is in place and letter drops were issued to local residents, businesses and schools. Our contractor will continue to liaise with local stakeholders regarding access arrangements as the pipelaying progresses.

 

“NI Water would take this opportunity to remind the public that construction sites are dangerous areas for unauthorised persons, especially children, and we would appreciate your co-operation in ensuring that children do not play in or around any site or machinery. The working area is secured and fenced off from members of the public at all times for public safety reasons.

“NI Water and its project team, Atkins and AG Wilson, would like to thank the local community and wider public for their continued patience and cooperation while we progress this essential work to support new housing in the Newtownabbey area. We will strive to keep disruption to a minimum and complete the work in the shortest possible timeframe.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• NI Water has a 3-step process, which allows our team of experts to work closely with developers to assess any network or treatment capacity issues associated with proposed new developments.

• We want to ensure that the development process is as simple as possible, so it’s really important to get in touch with the team prior to any application for planning approval.

For more information, and to complete our new Pre-Planning Process form, log on to: niwater.com/services-for-developer 

• Beware of Bogus Callers – if you are concerned about the identity of someone at your door, you can call the PSNI non-emergency number ‘101’ where you will have the option of a ‘Quickcheck’ to confirm the caller is from the utility they say they are.

• Do not let children go near work sites or equipment, this can be extremely dangerous.

For further information, please email press.office@niwater.com