Meath motorists braced for delays as Uisce Éireann announces €41m Navan water upgrade

Motorists in Navan are being warned to expect possible delays as Uisce Éireann carries out a multi-million euro upgrade of the town’s water infrastructure.

The works centre on the €41m enhancement of the Duleek to Navan Trunk watermain project.

A section of the R153 Navan to Kentstown Road from the junction with the R147 at Timmons Hill to the junction with the R150 at Kentstown will close temporarily from Sunday, June 30 to Sunday, October 6.

According to Uisce Éireann, the €41m project will safeguard the water supply to homes and businesses in the area.

Senior officials from the State utility have insisted local and emergency traffic will be maintained to properties along the route at all times.

Uisce Éireann’s Programme Manager William McKnight described the project as “critical for the people of Navan”, thanking the community for their patience and co-operation in advance of the works.

“I can’t overstate the importance of this project for the local community,” he said.

“The new 16km regional trunk water main and pumping station will create a strategic link between the Staleen Water Treatment Plant Network, at a point just south of Duleek, and the Proudstown and Carn Hill reservoirs which provide treated water storage for Navan.

Project Manager Pat Wickham endorsed those comments, insisting the upgrade would also provide untold benefits to the wider locality.

“This new water main will not only maintain a water supply to Navan if there is any planned or unplanned disruption at Navan’s Liscarton Water Treatment Plant, but it will also support social and economic growth in an area that has seen unprecedented growth in recent years,” he said.

In order to keep the community up to date on the works, Uisce Éireann has held briefings for the local community and elected representatives.

Uisce Éireann said a dedicated Community Liaison Officer (CLO) is working on the ground and will continue to engage with the local community to keep locals up to date on traffic management systems.

A separate temporary road closure to ensure the safe delivery of the project is in place on the L1610 from the Balrath Crossroads to the R150 junction at Abbey Road and will be in place until 21 August, 2024.

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