Minister O'Donovan welcomes the appointment of Consultant Engineers to carry out design of the Dundalk, Blackrock South and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes

Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), was in Dundalk today (30 July 2020) to announce that Louth County Council, in partnership with the Office of Public Works, has appointed Black and Veatch and Nicholas O ‘Dwyer (Joint Venture) as engineering consultants to carry out the design of the Dundalk, Blackrock South and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes.

Speaking in Dundalk today, Minister O’Donovan stated

This is an important investment for the towns of Dundalk and Ardee and the public should be assured that there will be extensive public consultation as the Scheme develops. I have no doubt that my Office and the Council will continue to work closely together to bring this Scheme to construction”.

The proposed flood relief scheme for Dundalk / Blackrock South consists of the construction of a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls, rock armour coastal protection, demountable barriers, road raising, a sluice gate and tanking of two properties and is in the first tranche of projects to be progressed by Louth County Council within the 10-year timeframe for the programme of investment. The Dundalk, Blackrock South and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes will deliver protection to 1,711 residential and 176 non-residential properties from the 1 in 100-year flood event.

Joan Martin, Chief Executive for Louth County Council added that

Louth County Council also recognises the success of the Carlingford Lough Greenway and intend to capitalise upon the potential flood defences from Blackrock to Bellurgan as a potential corridor for a section of the Great Eastern Greenway from Belfast to Dublin.

For more information, please contact OPW Communications at pressoffice@opw.ie

-ENDS-

Note to Editors:

Louth County Council, working with the OPW, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk / Blackrock South.
The proposed flood relief scheme for Dundalk / Blackrock South consists of the construction of a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls, rock armour coastal protection, demountable barriers, road raising, a sluice gate and tanking of two properties and is in the first tranche of projects to be progressed by Louth County Council within the 10-year timeframe for the programme of investment.
The Dundalk / Blackrock South scheme has a preliminary cost estimate of €80.9 Million (this also includes the budget for the Ardee Flood Relief Scheme) and will protect approximately 1,880 properties once complete.
A project steering group has been established comprising of OPW personnel (administrative and technical) and local authority representatives, similar to the arrangements in place for the projects already being implemented under the existing flood relief capital works programme.
The proposed Greenway will eventually form part of a proposed Greenway Link from Belfast to Dublin often referred to as the Great Eastern Greenway. It will also enable walkers and cyclists to travel off-road between Belfast and Dublin on the proposed Great Eastern Greenway.
The proposed flood relief scheme at Ardee, Co. Louth will also be progressed directly by Louth County Council in tandem with the Dundalk/Blackrock South Scheme with full funding from the OPW, the cost of which is included in the budget for that Scheme. The work proposed will involve the construction of a series of hard defences (embankments and walls) protecting 7 properties when completed.