Skibbereen Flood Relief Project Underway

The contract for Skibbereen Flood Relief Project was recently signed in June by Cork County Council. This project when completed will ensure that priority areas in the town will be protected from the severe floods experienced over recent decades.

RPS has a long standing appointment from Cork County Council in relation to a Road, Traffic and Flood Relief Study for the town of Skibbereen, Co. Cork. This study identified the need for major improvements to the town’s road network, sewerage collection and treatment system, surface water drainage and flood risk reduction infrastructure.

RPS, working closely with Cork County Council, has been responsible for the planning, design, environmental assessment and project delivery of all aspects of the Study on a phased basis in line with budgetary constraints. Significant infrastructure provided to date has included the construction of new bypass road, sewerage collection system, surface water drainage network and wastewater treatment plant. The estimated capital expenditure to date is in excess of €40M.

Works will begin this month on the €15.8M contract between Cork County Council and Jons Civil Engineering Ltd. The project includes tidal and fluvial flood prevention work on the River Ilen and on three tributaries flowing through Skibbereen – the Caol, Assolas and Glencurragh. It is designed to provide a 200-year flood prevention, protecting over 300 homes and businesses in Skibbereen and surrounding areas. Skibbereen has suffered considerably from a long history of flooding, most significantly two major events occurred in 2009.

The project, designed by RPS, includes the construction of 2.9km of new flood walls, 4.2km of embankments, as well as new culverts, the replacement of old culverts, new stormwater pumping stations, works at John F Kennedy Bridge and associated drainage works.

RPS is responsible for both the on-site supervision and administration of this contract and has deployed a team of Resident Engineers to supervise the works in Skibbereen which is due to be completed in early 2019.