Local Main Drainage Project 'among the biggest in Europe'

The Athlone Main Drainage Project has been described by Cllr Kevin 'Boxer' Moran as the second biggest project of its kind in Europe at present.

The Independent councillor was speaking at a meeting last week of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, where he called for local representatives and other interested members of the community to be given a tour of the €114 million project.

"This is the second biggest operation in Europe at the present time. It's massive," said 'Boxer', who felt that the rationale for the project had not been adequately communicated to the public in Athlone.

"The wider public doesn't understand why all the digging is going on, but I think it would be no harm for us to go and have a tour of the site. This future-proofs Athlone way, way into the future, above any other town in the country."

Cllr Frankie Keena noted that a deputation from the council had been given a tour by Uisce Éireann and its contractor on the project, Ward and Burke, last year.

He agreed that it was "an amazing engineering feat" and said the contractor was open to engaging with the general public and with second-level and third-level students.

Work on the Athlone Main Drainage Project began last year and is due to continue until the end of next year.

The project involves the construction of almost 3km of new sewers, along with two new pumping stations, at Golden Island and Coosan West. It's also due to resolve the longstanding problem of raw sewage being discharged into the River Shannon during times of heavy rainfall.