NI Water will commence a six-week programme of work at the end of June to install new stormwater infrastructure in Cookstown.
The installation of dedicated stormwater pipelines and new manholes will remove storm (rain) water from the combined wastewater network, helping to reduce the risk of out-of-sewer flooding in the area, provide more capacity and help support localised development.
The work – which is scheduled to start on Monday 29th June on Union Street – will require localised lane closures around working areas, initially on a section of Union Street and later on Molesworth Street.
Speaking about the works and the associated traffic management, Robert McLean, NI Water Senior Project Manager said: “The Molesworth Street area has been identified as one of the highest priority areas for stormwater separation in our current programme of works. The scheme will remove over a hectare of drainage from the combined system, reducing pressure on the local network and delivering environmental improvements through reduced spills.
“Pipelaying is scheduled to begin at the Molesworth Street/Union Street junction and will progress along Union Street as far as The Railway Bar over approximately three to four weeks. The second phase of network improvements will take place in the layby area between Molesworth Plaza and Cookstown Hockey Club.
“Localised lane closures will be in place around working areas, with access maintained to residential properties, businesses and car parks. All traffic management will be removed for the contractor’s summer holiday period on Friday 10th July and will be reinstated on Monday 27th July.
“NI Water and our project team from AtkinsRéalis and AG Wilson Civil Engineering thank residents, businesses and motorists for their patience and cooperation as we carry out this essential work. We will do everything we can to complete the works as quickly as possible and keep disruption to a minimum.
The work in Cookstown forms part of NI Water’s wider Stormwater Separation Project, a long-term investment by NI Water which is helping to modernise wastewater infrastructure in areas facing network constraints, creating additional capacity to support sustainable development while improving resilience for local communities during periods of heavy rainfall.
Since the programme began in 2023, NI Water has removed over 166,000 square metres of surface water drainage from the combined sewer network. This has not only significantly reduced the pressure on the existing wastewater infrastructure but has freed up capacity for around 600 new homes across NI.
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For further information, please email press.office@niwater.com