5 September 2006
£100 MILLION BELFAST SEWERS PROJECT CONTRACT AWARDED
Katharine Bryan, Chief Executive of Water Service today announced the award of the £100 million Belfast Sewers (Tunnel) Project.
The contractor is the internationally renowned tunnelling contractor Morgan=Est, in a joint venture with local company Farrans Construction. The project involving the construction of a new 10 kilometre tunnel up to four metres in diameter will start immediately and will take three years to complete.
Katharine Bryan said: "The £100 million Belfast Sewers (Tunnel) Project, funded through the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative, represents one of the biggest infrastructure investments in the city. It will dramatically improve the current sewerage system and provide Belfast with the modern infrastructure required to cater for the present and future development needs of the city.
"Many of the existing sewers in the Belfast area date from the Victorian era. This massive scheme will significantly improve the water quality in the Lagan and Blackstaff rivers, reduce the risk of flooding in the Belfast area and ensure compliance with stringent European Union environmental standards.
"The successful companies have carried out many large scale engineering projects across the world and represent the very best in contracting services. There will be significant logistical challenges for a project of this scale and Water Service and its contractors are committed to minimising disruption and engaging with the local community to keep them fully informed of the progress of the scheme."
"This level of investment is a visible sign of Water Services commitment to improve water and sewerage services. I am confident that Water Service and its contractors will deliver a landmark project that will provide Belfast city with a modern efficient sewerage system for generations to come."
The Project Team to manage the project consists of Water Service, the consulting engineers Atkins and their associates Faithful & Gould and tunnelling consultants and contractors Amec.
Details of the Belfast Sewers Project can be found on the Water Service website www.waterni.gov.uk or by contacting Waterline on 08457 440088.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. In July 2003 following public competition a consortia of Atkins Consultants and Amec Tunnels was awarded the commission to provide project management and other professional services to work with Water Service delivering this project.
2. The Belfast Sewers Project involves work to upgrade the existing sewer networks and the construction of a large diameter drainage tunnel to increase stormwater capacity. A contract to upgrade the sewer network was started in 2005. There are approximately 1,800 km of sewers covering a catchment area of 42 square kilometres. The tunnel contract is the final part of the Belfast Sewers Project and will provide the required increased capacity in the sewerage system.
3. The implementation of this project will result in the closure of a significant number of the existing combined sewer overflows, which will reduce the pollutant load from the sewerage system on the River Lagan and its tributaries by 85% of present levels.
4. The tunnel will be about 10 kilometres in length, and will be up to 4 metres in diameter. In places it will be 30 metres below the ground. The main tunnel will start at Cromac Street and end at a pumping station at Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works, Duncrue Street near the M2. Tributary tunnels will join the main tunnel at various points. The tributary tunnels start at Glenmachan Street, Park Road and in Queens Quay. Along the route of the tunnels there will be 26 large diameter vertical shafts to provide sewer connection and access to the tunnels. The route of the tunnels was determined by ground conditions, the availability of sites for the tunnel shafts, and other logistical constraints.
5. For further information please contact : Esther Blair, Water Service, Mobile 07814 492600, email esther.blair@waterni.gov.uk or DRD Press Office 028 9054 0004.
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