Waterford Public Infrastructure Project moves forward

ROD is delighted to report that the Waterford Public Infrastructure project is moving through the final construction procurement stages.

A flagship of the recently published National Development Plan 2021-2030, sustainability, pedestrian and cycle priority and universal access were key factors in the design of the project.

It comprises:

• 1.3km of urban dual carriageway and local road upgrades in the Ferrybank area, together with significant junction works
• a new train station and transport interchange within the North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ)
• a 220m long pedestrian, cycle and public transport bridge across the River Suir, with an opening span to accommodate river traffic
• the creation of a plaza on the south side of the river to connect the new bridge to the existing city centre
• significant flood defences along 2km of the river to future-proof both new and existing infrastructure on the north side of Waterford 
• 400m of rock engineering works to the railway cutting above the existing railway station, which will dovetail with track upgrade works being undertaken independently by Irish Rail

ROD has led the project since its re-inception over five years ago, managing and coordinating the design, bringing each of the elements through the planning and other statutory processes and liaising with the various stakeholders. We are working with Hardesty & Hanover on the movable bridge and Sean Harrington Architects on the transport hub.

ROD's Project Director, Tony Dempsey, commented: “We began work on this project in 2007, undertaking a feasibility study of a moveable bridge across the River Suir. It is not often we get to be involved with the development of a new part of a city in Ireland – it is a 1 in 100-year event!"

"Micheal Walsh and his team at Waterford City & County Council have put a tremendous effort into progressing the project to this stage, and the support of the National Transport Authority (NTA) has been immense," he added.

Three enabling works contracts involving the clearance of vegetation from the cliff face at Plunkett station, the diversion of services, and the demolition of several large properties have already been completed.

Two further enabling contracts to relocate and upgrade a foul water and surface water pumping station and to divert services on the South Quays for the bridge landing area are at contract appointment stage.

The tender for the rock engineering works to stabilise the cliffs at the existing Plunkett station was recently advertised.

The final enabling contract to divert the existing drainage systems in the Ferrybank area to the new pumping station is at advanced design stage and will be advertised in the coming weeks.

The most significant works package will include the new bridge across the River Suir, the new train station and the road improvements and access bridges to the SDZ site. It has been advertised as a single contract.

ROD will now bring the main contract procurement to conclusion and supervise all of the works to the completion and handover stages. Tenders are expected in Q2 2022.