The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme, one of Uisce Éireann's largest infrastructure projects representing an investment of €114 million, is approaching completion.

All tunnelling works have been finished and reinstatement works are progressing throughout the town. Construction along The Quays has also been completed.

At Golden Island, the pumping station shaft has been fully constructed. Mechanical and electrical installations are advancing, and the control building is substantially complete, with only final fit-out remaining. The Coosan West Pumping Station is now operational, delivering improved wastewater capacity for the area. The project is on schedule for full completion within the year, with flows expected to be diverted into the new sewer network by October.

Cross-connection works between the old and new sewer networks are ongoing at various sites around Athlone. The Strand Carpark will now reopen in October to allow safe completion and demobilisation, helping to avoid future disruption.

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Additional works will take place at Custume Place as part of the Church Street Improvement Works. These public realm upgrades are due to begin in October.

Commenting on the progress, Uisce Éireann Portfolio Manager Eunan Canavan said: "We are grateful to the community for their continued patience as we reach the final stages of this transformative project. The Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will significantly improve the capacity and resilience of the wastewater infrastructure, ensuring Athlone is well prepared for future growth and development, while also reducing the risk of sewer flooding, improving the water quality in the River Shannon and supporting a cleaner, healthier environment."

The scheme included the construction of new pumping stations at Golden Island and Coosan West and the installation of almost 3km of new trunk sewers. Existing, under-performing pumping stations and pipework will be decommissioned. Six combined sewer overflows along the River Shannon have been removed and replaced with two new stormwater overflows that comply with current licensing standards, enhancing water quality and environmental protection.

Works have been carried out across multiple sites in Athlone, including Golden Island, West Bank (The Quay), West Side, Abbey Road, Coosan West, The Strand, Burgess Park, Payne’s Lane, and two separate tunnel crossings beneath the River Shannon. The new sewers were installed using trenchless technology, meaning that a significant proportion of the construction took place underground without the need for open-cut excavation.

Photo credit: Uisce Éireann.