21 February 2005
TUNNEL ROUTE FOR £100 MILLION BELFAST SEWERS PROJECT ANNOUNCED
Katharine Bryan, Chief Executive of Water Service, today announced the tunnelling phase of the Belfast Sewers Project as part of the measures required to upgrade Belfast’s sewerage network.
Department for Regional Development Minister, John Spellar, MP, said:
"The Belfast Sewers Project is part of a significant investment to upgrade Northern Ireland’s water and sewerage infrastructure and Government has allocated around £735 million up to 2008.
"We need £3 billion over the next 20 years to protect public health, meet European standards on water quality and respond to increasing demand. Without water and sewerage charges we cannot sustain this investment, unless we take money from other priority services."
The tunnel will be 9.5 kilometres long, up to four metres in diameter and laid at a depth of up to 30 metres.
Katharine Bryan said: "The tunnel will follow two routes, from Glenmachan Street near the M1 and from Ormeau Park, converging in the City Centre at Cromac Street. It will then proceed to a terminal pumping station at Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works in Duncrue Street, beside the M2.
"The Belfast Sewers Project represents an investment of over £100 million by Water Service. It will provide the people of Belfast with modern sewerage services, designed to cater for the future development needs of the city, bring significant environmental improvements and reduce the risk of flooding. Structural repairs to 500 sewers will commence in April 2005 and construction work on the tunnel will commence in early 2006. Following completion of the tunnel, further strengthening of the network will involve the upgrading of 19 kilometres of sewer.
"Water Service will face the logistical challenge of working at a large number of locations across the city. We are determined to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum and will therefore carry out the work using the most innovative technical, engineering and environmentally friendly practices."
Welcoming the announcement, Tom Ekin, Lord Mayor of Belfast, said: "This is a welcome initiative which will bring great benefits to the city and its people. It will have a tremendous impact in its own right, as well as being a crucial part of the city’s wider regeneration programme.
"This is one of a number of significant infrastructure projects already underway or planned for Belfast. I am delighted that Water Service is working alongside the Council and other private and public bodies to minimise disruption and keep the public informed about progress on all the work across the city."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Access a map of the project.
- A tender process for the engineering work associated with the tunnel system will commence in March with a short list of contractors.
- The Belfast Sewers Project will also include the upgrading of 19 kilometres of existing sewers and the provision of 26 new stormwater storage tanks and more than 500 sewer repairs. This will result in a reduction of the pollutant load on the River Lagan and its tributaries, enabling river water quality targets to be achieved.
- Further information on the Belfast Sewers Project can be found on Water Service’s website: www.waterni.gov.uk
- For all media enquiries, please contact Anne McGivern, DRD Press Office, Tel: 028 9054 0004.
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