Graham has completed a new wastewater pumping station and storm screening facilities on behalf of NI Water at Portaferry Road, Newtownards
The £1.9m upgrade will provide additional storage during storm events and a more robust and efficient station, which will minimise the risk of flooding in the local area.
On successful operation of the new pumping station, demolition of the existing pumping station was completed, along with security fencing and hard/soft landscaping.
Precast solutions
As part of the project, a new 600mm pumping main was strategically installed, as well as a new MCC panel, pumping facilities, storm screening facilities and associated lifting equipment.
The specimen design for the pumping station was based on a precast segmental shaft solution.
Due to the substantial depth of the excavation, the poor ground conditions, the close proximity of the sea and therefore the high risk of uncontrollable groundwater, the project team installed in-situ concrete tanks incorporating a sheet piled cofferdam which controlled the groundwater providing surety that the works could be constructed safely.
Benefitting the community
PJ McCaffery, contracts director for Graham, said: “Close collaboration with our client NI Water was key to this project’s success.
“There were many considerations and challenges for our project team to overcome, for example, working adjacent to Strangford Lough and Newtownards Airport, both of which required careful consultation with the key stakeholders before and during the works.
“Our proposal to install the new pumping main offline meant we were able to reduce the number of road closures on the Portaferry Road, minimising disruption to the travelling public, on this main arterial route to the Ards Peninsula.
“I would like to thank both Graham and NI Water’s project teams for their hard work and considerate approach to delivering this project.
“We’re delighted to have completed the upgrade, which will undoubtedly benefit the area by providing upgraded wastewater facilities in the area.”
