Market St, Downpatrick Sewerage Scheme Continues – One-Way System

04 June 2014 12:02

NI Water is currently undertaking essential improvements to the sewerage infrastructure in Downpatrick town centre. This £3 million programme of work involves the construction of a new pumping station with extra stormwater storage and increased pumping capacities, new pumping mains and sewer upgrades in the Market Street area of Downpatrick.
   
NI Water and our contractor BSG Civil Engineering Ltd are currently installing the new pumping main from Market Street to the existing terminal pumping station at Russell Park, plus installing an additional section of pumping main required to facilitate the new leisure centre development. The next section of this essential programme of work will involve upgrading several sections of the existing gravity sewer in Market Street.

Following feedback from the local traders and with the agreement of Roads Service, we are pleased to advise that we are now able to advance the works and plan to set up a one way system in Market Street on Wednesday 18th June 2014. This programme adjustment should allow us to complete the main sewer upgrade works in Market Street by 8th August 2014. There will be no works during the period 12th - 27th July inclusive (the one way system will be removed Thurs 10th July at 17.00 and reinstated 8.00am on Mon 28th July). During the works, the Contractor will be working extended hours to complete the works as soon as possible.
When the one way system is in place, traffic will be able to leave the town via Market Street, heading Belfast direction, but traffic entering the town will have to use the diverted route (St. Patrick’s Avenue). NI Water will continue to review the Traffic Management Plan for Market Street and liaise closely with DRD Roads Service to agree any proposed changes as pipe laying progresses. Further updates will be provided as required to keep the public informed as the essential scheme progresses. Schools in the area have also been informed.

The project will ultimately facilitate the relocation and upgrading of the existing sewerage pumping station from Market Street to the new site in the existing car park.  This will reduce the risk of out of sewer flooding in Market Street, reduce storm overflows during wet weather conditions to the Plank Drain and generally enhance the sewerage system to meet future growth and demand. This programme of work is scheduled to be completed in late 2014.

As with all work of this nature, there will be an element of disruption and NI Water and our contractor, BSG Civil Engineering would like to thank the public and local businesses for their patience and cooperation as this work progresses, and assure them that we will do everything we can to complete the work as quickly as possible, with minimum disruption.

If you have any special needs or requirements that you wish to make us aware of, please contact Waterline on 08457 440088 and quote “BSG Civil Engineering, Market Street Sewerage Scheme”.