NI Water planning next major pipeline connection following reopening of Meadow Lane
26 September 2024 13:48
Meadow Lane and Portmore Street in Portadown are due to be fully reopened at the end of September before work gets underway on the fourth major connection - adjacent to Meadow Lane East Car Park - as part of NI Water’s £7.8m wastewater upgrade in the area.
Speaking about the work, which is due to commence at the beginning of October, NI Water Senior Project Manager, Lisa Hughes said:
“This next major connection - which is the last of the connections in relation to the new large diameter sewer - will take place in the vicinity of Meadow Lane East Car Park. To facilitate the extensive open-cut pipelaying work, our contractor BSG will need to fence off a small section of Meadow Lane East Car Park and implement a footpath and lane closure on the access road off Meadow Lane towards the car park. This means there will be no left turn for vehicles off Meadow Lane from Tuesday 1st October for around two weeks.
“Access to Tesco and the Meadows Shopping Centre will be via the entrance to McDonalds while this work is ongoing. Meadow Lane East Car Park will remain open and access to the car park will be available from the Meadows Shopping Centre/Tesco car park.
“To help maintain traffic flow along Meadow Lane and into the Meadows Shopping Centre/ McDonalds, vehicles exiting the access road alongside Meadow Lane East Car Park, past BSG’s work area, will only be able to turn right onto Meadow Lane. Commuters who want to take a left onto Meadow Lane, to proceed in the direction of Thomas Street, should exit directly out of the Meadows Shopping Centre car park. Signage will be in place to direct traffic and pedestrians and as always, our contractor will make every effort to complete the work in the shortest possible timescale.”
Commenting on progress on the overall scheme, Lisa added: “We are delighted to be at the point of starting our last major pipeline connection in relation to the laying of the large diameter sewer as part of this extensive NI Water scheme. Almost 400m of 1500mm diameter sewer has been laid under Meadow Lane by tunnelling and over 200m has been laid by open-cut excavation in relation to these major connections.
“Going forward, additional connections, in relation to the stormwater network and to facilitate the closure of five storm overflows, will still be required. We will provide an update to residents, businesses and the public ahead of any further traffic management being implemented.
“The project team from NI Water, BSG and McAdam, remains grateful to the local community, wider public and other stakeholders for their continued patience and support during the ongoing £7.8m Meadow Lane Wastewater Upgrade Project. Over 53,000 manhours have been employed to date by BSG on the construction of the new modern pumping station, stormwater tank and associated pipelines.
“When complete next year, this significant NI Water project will reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding, support local development and deliver extensive environmental improvements in the Portadown area.”
Ends
For further information, please email press.office@niwater.com
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.
- By the end of September 2024 over 53,300 hours will have been employed by BSG in the construction of the new pumping station and installation of pipelines.