The Solution

The Belfast Sewers Project is one of the largest and most important infrastructure investments taking place in the city. It involves two key contracts.

The Sewer Rehabilitation Works – Contract 1

• Sewer rehabilitation work to upgrade some 500 sewers began in 2005
• The project used state of the art low dig and no dig technology
• Northern Ireland Water’s Project Managers were Consulting engineers, Atkins
• The main contractors were Dawson WAM-McAllister JV and John Graham (Dromore) Ltd.

The Stormwater Management Works – Contract 2

• Preliminary work got underway in September 2006 and the project is due for completion, early 2010
• It will involve the construction of some 9.5km of tunnels ranging from 4.0 metres to 1.8 metres in diameter distributed throughout the city centre area at varying depths
• The main tunnel will start at Cromac Street and end at a new pumping station at Belfast Wastewater Treatment Works in Duncrue Street, near the M2 motorway
• Tributary tunnels will join this main tunnel at Glenmachan Street, Park Road and Queen’s Quay
• The creation of 20 access shafts between 6 and 15 metres in diameter
• The construction of a 38m wide, 40m deep terminal pumping station; and the addition of a storm tank at the Belfast Wastewater Treatment works in Duncrue Street, near the M2 motorway
• The stormwater tunnel system will increase the capacity of Belfast’s sewerage system
• The project will involve the closure of several existing combined sewer overflows
• Pollutant load from the sewerage system into the River Lagan and its tributaries will be dramatically reduced
• Northern Ireland Water’s appointed Project Managers are consulting engineers Atkins supported by their associates Faithful and Gould and AMEC Specialist Services
• The main contractor is a joint venture partnership of Morgan=Est and local company Farrans Construction.