Work on major Navan water scheme to start in January

Meath County Council has awarded a contract to Clarke Quarries Ltd to construct 12.5km of distribution trunk mains around the west and south perimeter of Navan town as part of the larger Navan Mid-Meath Water Supply Scheme. The larger scheme will see the construction of a new water-treatment plant, three new reservoirs and over 40km of trunk watermains and will provide Navan town and its environs with a secure water supply capable of meeting the needs of the growing town, said Meath County Council. The majority of the works involve the construction of the new watermain along public roads with a small section laid through privately-owned lands. The watermain will be laid along the following roads; the Borallion Road from Kilcarn to Balreask Crossroads, from Balreask Crossroads to Gainstown Crossroads, the Commons Road, the N51 from the Clogherboy roundabout to Clarke"s Cross, the Bohermeen Road, from the Clogherboy roundabout to and including Ladies" Road and the main access road into Mullaghboy Industrial Estate. The council said this week that it would be necessary, in some cases, to close roads to traffic in order to safely and expediently lay the watermain. Any such road closures would be subject to the necessary statutory procedures and would be advertised in the local media in advance of the works, it said. The pipelaying project will commence in January with preliminary works taking place between now and Christmas, said the council. It is anticipated that the contract will be completed by January 2010. Given the nature of the works, it is inevitable that some inconvenience will be caused to local rewsidents and road-users alike, added the council. However, it said every effort would be made to minimise any such inconvenience. When completed, the new trunk watermain will help secure the present needs and future development of the area. Meath County Council intends to hold an information day tomorrow (Thursday) between 2pm and 8.30pm in Navan Library, where the general public can meet the engineering staff involved in the project, who will be happy to answer any queries. The project is being jointly funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Meath County Council as part of the National Development Plan.