S2S Footway and Cycleway Interim Works at James Larkin Road/Clontarf Road
A Chara,
I have been contacted by many constituents in the past few weeks expressing justifiable concerns about ongoing delays regarding the completion of the new cycle way between the Causeway and the Wooden Bridge, Clontarf.
Cllr. Seán Paul Mahon has since received the following information in relation to this project and I will continue to monitor this situation for you.
Details in relation to the expected final cost of the project cannot be discussed for commercial reasons. The revised expected date for substantial completion is April 2017. Some works such as construction of the car park at St Anne’s Park, installation of coping and ESB connections will continue beyond April.
Over the last two months the major contributory factor to the delay in achieving substantial completion of the project would be problems with the water main testing. The Contractor resumed work on 4th January 2017 following the Christmas Break. The main activity for the first four weeks was the testing of the watermain. When the watermain was tested on 13th December 2016 there was noticeable pressure loss. The source of the pressure loss was identified and repaired in January 2017. A further test also showed some pressure loss. A second problem location was identified and the watermain was then tested again. However because of the significant length of the watermain, only one test can be carried out in a week. This means that if there is loss of pressure observed during testing, it will take in the order of two weeks to commence retesting, allowing for emptying the water, remedying the defect and re-pressurising. The overall impact on the subsequent activities would be of the order of one month delay.
Any section of watermain that has not passed the pressure test cannot be backfilled. This is essential to ensure ease investigation of defects. This meant that all the other activities could not be carried out as they required the watermain to be backfilled first. The testing of the watermain was successfully completed and other works have now resumed.
Traffic management measures that were deemed reasonable to facilitate the road closures were implemented. However, some traffic delays were unavoidable particularly during peak commute times, given the scope of the works being undertaken.
Dublin City Council has ensured that there are sufficient resources to supervise the site and check the contractor’s compliance with the contract.
The outstanding works include the following:
• Complete construction of flood prevention bund and segregated cycle track in grassland area just south of Causeway Road.
• Backfill exposed areas around watermain joints and valves that had to remain exposed until final watermain test was successfully completed.
• Complete construction of remainder of segregated cycle track along the scheme.
• Complete construction of the Tram Shelter.
• Commence construction of concrete plinth containing tram lines and old cobbles just south of the Tram Shelter.
• Install CCTV foundations and masts at Causeway Road and Bull Road junctions.
• Complete installation of new public lighting columns.
• Complete shared area opposite the pond and install pedestrian railing on western side of new pedestrian crossing at the pond.
• Commence carrying out remedial works to localised ponding issues .
• Commence installation of coping on sea defence wall south of Mount Prospect Avenue. The coping for the sea defence wall was requested a few months ago but the coping that was selected is a custom design that would take longer to mount and manufacture. Delivery of coping to site started on 17th February. The rendering of the wall south of Mount Prospect Avenue will commence after the coping has been installed.
• Get ESB on site to install new connections for public lighting, traffic lights and RTPI poles, CCTV cameras, and foul pumping station cabinet.
• Once ESB connections are installed, commence commissioning of the new public lighting, traffic lights and RTPI poles, CCTV cameras, and foul pumping station cabinet.
• Dublin City Council will be contacting residents before the end of February outlining a response to the concerns raised in relation to entrances. Dublin City council acknowledges that this particular item is still outstanding. It is however important that Dublin City Council complete a full assessment of the issues raised and develop an appropriate solution.
• The part 8 for lowering the wall will be presented to the North Central Area Committee at the meeting scheduled for Tuesday 20th March.
• Dublin City Council is continuing to work with the Environmental Monitoring and Liaison Committee.
• It is planned to achieve substantial completion of the scheme with the view to open it in April.
It is anticipated that the reconstruction of the tram shelter will be completed by end of March.