Traffic in Bantry will be disrupted over the next two months as Irish Water work to replace 395 metres of pipes in the town centre.
Traffic in Bantry will be disrupted over the next two months as Irish Water work to replace 395 metres of pipes in the town centre.
Irish Water, in partnership with Cork County Council, has described the aging, cast iron water mains at Main Street, Barrack Street and Market Street as ‘problematic.’
However, in order to minimise any disruption to residents and businesses in the area, the company carrying out the work, Coffey Northumbrian Ltd, has issued a specific schedule of work, which they say will last until May 8th.
Irish Water confirmed: ‘Customers will be given a minimum of 48 hours-notice prior to any planned water shut offs’ while local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.
Customers in the affected areas have also been given a callsave number – 1850 278278 – if they have any questions about the project.
Steven Blennerhassett of Irish Water’s leakage reduction programme, said further mains replacement works in Bantry – which are at the design and planning stage – are expected to commence later this year.
The additional works will include ‘a critical 2.4km of mains renewal at Derryginagh – the pipework that links Bantry town to the main reservoir.’
A further 2km of mains at The Rope Walk, plus an additional 480m on the N71, is to be replaced in order to improve the security of water supply in the Bantry area.
As part of the first phase of the project, 395m of water mains in Main Street, Barrack Street and Market Street will be replaced with modern, high density polyethylene pipes.
New water service connections from the public water main to the customers’ water supply will also be provided.
Diarmaid Murphy, the chairman of Bantry Business Association, welcomed the investment by Irish Water saying: ‘We will have to put up with a small bit of upheaval but these works are necessary if we are to future proof the town.’
The chairman also made the point the €120,000 secured for public realm works at Main Street ‘will now be put to very good use once the underground works are completed.
‘It means Main Street won’t have to be dug up again, so it is the right order of business, and people can look forward to that part of the town being greatly enhanced.’
