MAJOR roadworks have begun in Enniskillen as part of a combined £8 million plan to transform the town, with infrastructure projects due to last all year.
As reported in the Herald at Christmas, 2019 will see continual traffic disruption for the county town. However, those behind the three major programmes of work planned have assured the public it will be worth it.
On Monday the first of these got underway, the £2 million project by SGN Natural Gas, part of the long-awaited Gas to the West scheme. The work has started at Darling Street, and will continue on Anne Street, High Street, Church Street, The Diamond, Town Hall Street, and East Bridge Street in the coming months.
Then, on February 1st, NIE Networks will start work on its £1 million initiative to modernise the existing low voltage cable network. This work will start on Anne Street and continue towards Forthill Road, with around 7km of cable due to be laid.
Both infrastructure projects, which are expected to last until mid-summer, have been planned so they are finished ahead of the Enniskillen Public Realm Scheme. The scheme is due to begin in August and will see footpaths, street lighting and the general ‘streetscape’ of the town transformed. It is understood the utility companies brought forward their schedules for the projects so they would be completed before the public realm scheme started.
Head of engineering with SGN Gas, David Butler, said they were working to minimise disruption as much as possible.
“We have agreed with Transport NI to operate a number of traffic management plans that may involve road closures, lane closures and traffic lights being implemented,” said Mr Butler.
“Any closures that may be required will be dictated by ground conditions when the work actually starts and, they will be carried out on a phased basis to minimise disruption. Any lane closures agreed in advance will have signage in place to direct traffic.”
Both the NIE project and the Public Realm Scheme will be carried out in phases, in order to minimise disruption to businesses, motorists, shoppers and visitors to the town.
For more information on the utility projects visit www.sgnnaturalgas.co.uk or nienetworks.co.uk.
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Posted: 5:07 pm January 12, 2019