Section of Meadow Lane to be closed to facilitate pipelaying work by NI Water

10 April 2024 15:12

The section of Meadow Lane, between the health centre and Tavanagh Avenue, will be closed from Monday 22^nd April – Monday 13^th May 2024 to facilitate the installation of a large diameter sewer by NI Water. The work forms part of the ongoing £7.8m Meadow Lane Wastewater Upgrade which will deliver environmental benefits and support economic growth in Portadown.

Speaking about the pipelaying work, NI Water’s Project Manager, Lisa Hughes said: “Our contractor has been making good progress on installing the new large diameter sewer in Meadow Lane. The next phase of works will be to connect the new sewer to the existing network at various locations. This process will require the use of more traditional open-cut methods of pipelaying. To ensure this first section of open-cut work can be carried out as safely as possible, it will be necessary to implement a road closure on Meadow Lane, from its junction with Tavanagh Avenue to its junction with the entrance to the health centre.

“The road closure is due to be in place from Monday 22^nd April for around three weeks. During this time, local access will be maintained to Tavanagh Avenue and the Baptist Church car park via Thomas Street; however there will be no through access to the health centre from this point. Access to the health centre will be from the Meadows Shopping Centre side of Meadow Lane while this work is being completed. Diversion routes for motorists will be signposted and we would advise road users to allow extra time for their journeys.

“Overall 620m of large diameter sewer – which will increase the capacity of the network and help prevent out-of-sewer flooding in the area – is being laid by tunnelling under Meadow Lane. Around one third of the new pipe is now in place and the use of the trenchless (tunnelling) methods has helped considerably to minimise disruption in the area. Going forward, open-cut excavations will be required to complete connections and therefore further traffic management – including short sections of road closure will be required at another four locations between the health centre and the new pumping station adjacent to Meadow Lane Car Park.

“NI Water will advise local stakeholders on the additional traffic management details as soon as possible. In the meantime, NI Water and our project team from BSG and McAdam take this opportunity to thank residents, businesses and road users for their ongoing patience and cooperation while we continue with the tunnelling work and preparations for these vital connections. As always, every effort will be made to complete the open-cut pipelaying work in the shortest possible time frame.

“In addition to the essential pipelaying work, BSG is making great progress on the new wastewater pumping station which includes the construction of a new 20m diameter stormwater storage tank. Once complete in 2025, the wider £7.8 million NI Water project will reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding, support local development and deliver extensive environmental improvements in the Portadown area.”

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