How the North Quays has progressed in 2024
A portion of the steel deck superstructure for the Sustainable Transport Bridge in Ghent, Belgium.
Over the course of the year, significant progress is evident on the North Quays Public Infrastructure Project.
The works include a public transport hub, including the relocation of Waterford train station to the North Quays and a sustainable transport bridge, which will link the relocated train station to new walking and cycling infrastructure.
The river foundation works for the sustainable transport bridge are now largely complete. This includes the permanent concrete river piers and abutments, while four large temporary steel support frames have also been installed in the river between the permanent piers.
The manufacture of the steel bridge deck is ongoing in Belgium and when the six bridge deck sections arrive on site next year, they will be temporarily supported and balanced on these support frames until they are correctly aligned and connected to each other and fixed to the permanent piers and abutments underneath. The temporary steel support frames will then be removed.
Permanent pier protection systems are currently being constructed in the river upstream and downstream of the bridge. All river vessels will navigate through the central opening bridge span and the pier protection system protects the bridge from accidental collisions.
The steel deck superstructure has been fabricated and painted in Ghent, Belgium and the final fit-out of the automated mechanical and electrical components for the opening spans of the bridge is ongoing.
Upon completion, the individual deck sections will be transported by sea barge to Waterford. The transport of the deck sections by sea is itself a significant engineering and logistical challenge. The separate deck sections weigh up to 300 tonnes and will be lifted by self-propelled platform trucks onto sea barges, which will then be towed by canal from Ghent out to the North Sea en route to Waterford.
A large 900 tonne, 60m high, floating sheerleg crane will also travel by sea from Belgium to complete the lifting and installation in Waterford. The route via the North Sea, English Channel and Celtic Sea is prone to strong winter storms so the journey will be made in 2025 under more favourable weather conditions.
The arrival of the large deck sections and floating crane up the River Suir and the on-site installation works next spring will be a significant milestone for the project and the City, and will be visible from various vantage points on the South Quays.
The works in the vicinity of Dock Road, Fountain Street and Abbey Road will be completed in phases over the coming six months.
The roadworks along Dock Road and Fountain Street continue to progress under traffic management for the construction and installation of new footpaths, drainage, surfacing, services, junctions, lighting, signage and road markings.
The signalised junctions at Rockshire Road and Abbey Road will continue to operate under temporary traffic management for the coming months while these works are completed.
The new realigned Abbey Road is now open under traffic management and new access arrangements for the schools and other services on Abbey Road are in place.
The roof of the train station is currently being completed and works to the internal layout are also ongoing, including the first fix of mechanical and electrical works. The train station building incorporates a pedestrian footbridge and concourse area over the railway tracks, which is integrated with the main ticketing office, conveniences and public waiting areas.
Works to the public plaza and set-down areas outside the train station will commence in Q1 of 2025. The construction of a separate footbridge over the rail tracks at Dock Road to the west of the railway platforms that aligned with the Sustainable Transport Bridge has also commenced.
A new flood defence and drainage system for the rail corridor will commence construction early in 2025 as part of the North Quays project. This system will protect the existing and new rail infrastructure from the increasing impacts of flooding and climate change, delivering future proofed and climate resilient commuter and freight rail services for Waterford City and Waterford Port.
