Jennings O’Donovan, in partnership with Egis Engineering, is serving as the Employer’s Representative for Uisce Éireann on the Athlone Main Drainage project, a major infrastructure undertaking since 2010. The primary objective of this scheme is to significantly improve the water quality of the River Shannon by removing non-compliant overflows and reducing the risk of out-of-sewer flooding. By modernizing the wastewater network, the project also provides the necessary capacity to support future population and economic growth in Athlone.
The scope of work is technically diverse, featuring the construction of 3km of large-diameter tunnelled sewers (up to 1,800mm) and two major tunnelled crossings beneath the bed of the River Shannon. To facilitate these underground works, 17 launch and reception shafts have been constructed throughout the town, reaching depths of up to 17m. Additionally, the project includes two new pumping stations at Golden Island and Coosan West, with the Golden Island site incorporating 4,100m³ of storm storage and high-capacity foul and storm pumps.
Executing this project within a dense urban environment presented significant engineering and logistical challenges. Construction required navigating an archaeologically rich area and building a 30m deep pumping station in a former town dump using specialized caisson construction techniques. To ensure the safety of existing infrastructure, the team implemented extensive structural and settlement monitoring throughout the construction process.
The project involves the decommissioning of five existing network pumping stations and the installation of 1km of new rising mains. Currently in the construction phase, this scheme represents a vital investment in Athlone’s environmental health and future development.
