Motorists may expect delays during watermain laying work on the Shore road
AHEAD OF THE G8 in June, further improvements are being carried out to the Lough Shore Road, just six weeks after extensive resurfacing.
From Monday, NI Water began laying new watermains from Silverhill Bridge to the junction with Drumboory Road.
The work is part of plans NI Water has developed for security of supply for the G8 Summit. It includes replacing the watermain up to 100 metres into a reinstated road at the junction of Drumboory Road.
The work on the water supply had been due to take place over the next three to four years through an ongoing £100 million project to replace watermains throughout Northern Ireland but, due to necessity, it is being completed now, at a cost of £160,000.
In preparation for the Summit, NI Water was requested to review the water supply network in the area as part of the necessary ‘resilience preparations’ for the G8. The work will enable NI Water to ensure water supply is available from other sources within the network in the event of a burst on the watermain supplying the Lough Erne Hotel.
NI Water’s project manager, Gavin McGinty, explained: “NI Water work closely with other departments to co-ordinate planned work to ensure, where possible, any water or sewerage upgrade work can be done before a road is reinstated.
“In this case, however, the requirements for security of water supply for the G8 summit were not finalised until after the road was reinstated.”
He went on: “We would like to reassure the public NI Water will fully restore the road to its present condition upon completion of the work and will keep any disruption in the area to an absolute minimum.
“Customers in the area have been notified about possible intermittent disruption to water supplies, and further notice will be given if the water is off for a longer period of time.
“NI Water is working with DRD and Roads Service, along with the PSNI and is striving to ensure the work is completed as soon as possible with minimum disruption,” he added.
Local Councillor, Alex Baird gave his thoughts on the work.
“I have to say it is unfortunate that Northern Ireland Water’s forward planning was not adequate to ensure that there would be no need to do work on a road that had been recently refurbished.
“While the improvements will probably help residents of the area as well, I do hope any effect it has on the carriageway will be kept to a minimum.”
Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan felt the timing of work illustrated a failure of communication
“Government departments work in complete isolation with little or no regard for what agencies are doing or planning to do. This is particularly frustrating, considering this is a recently resurfaced piece of road.”
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