Uisce Éireann will begin major groundworks in the east of the city over coming weeks to unlock land for new housing.
Works are due to begin in the coming weeks on the installation of new water mains at the Ballyloughane Road.
These new mains will stretch from the Old Dublin Road to the Galway-Dublin railway line, a distance of 680 metres. The works will be carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by Ward and Burke.
Once these works are complete, another project will commence on the Doughiska Road. Here, approximately 800 metres of new mains will be laid along the Doughiska Road, from the junction with the Monivea Road to the turn-off for Fearann Rí estate.
These new mains are being installed to support future housing developments planned for the Murrough and Ardaun areas of Galway city.
Funding to service these greenfield sites is coming fom the Government’s €2 billion infrastructure programme announced as part of the National Development Plan, and Uisce Éireann’s own Accelerated Growth inititiative.
In addition, an upgrade of the Ballybane Pumping Station is set to get underway, further strengthening the water network that serves the city. These works will be carried out on behalf of Uisce Éireann by Coffeys Construction Limited.
Seperately, almost 2km of water mains began being laid this week from the Moneenageisha crossroads, along Lough Atalia, all the way to the Docks, by Farrans Construction.
James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, welcomed the commencement of works as evidence of the Government’s commitment to providing essential water services required to drive home-building.
“This programme of Accelerated Growth will provide a significant boost to the capacity of the water network to the east of Galway city, laying the groundwork for new residential developments in the near future,” said Minister Browne. “As a Government, we are dedicated to strengthening the water and wastewater services necessary to build new homes, at scale, in the places they are most needed.”
Michael McManus of Uisce Éireann said some of the newly announced works, especially at the junction the Old Dublin Road with the Ballyloughane Road, will be carried out at night, to avoid traffic disruption.
“These works will require traffic management measures, but we want to ensure that these cause as little disruption as possible for residents, businesses and road users. At points where traffic flows are heaviest… works will be carried out at night to limit disruption,” he said.
