WATCH: Significant progress on North Quays project in Waterford

Waterford City & County Council has said "significant progress" has been made on the North Quays Public Infrastructure Project in the city.

The works are being funded with a public investment of €207m, including €100.6m support from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and following cabinet approval, a further €70 million from the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The works include a public transport hub that will incorporate the relocation of the existing train station to the North Quays and a sustainable transport bridge, which will link the relocated station to new walking and cycling infrastructure.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "The permanent river works for the sustainable transport bridge are now reaching completion."

She said the construction of cofferdams are now being cut back, revealing the concrete piers and abutments above the waterline.

"Temporary bridge supports are being installed in the water which will assist with the installation of the bridge deck, and a permanent bridge protection system also needs to be installed in the water to protect the bridge piers from potential future collisions from river vessels," said the spokesperson in a statement to Waterford News & Star.

The steel deck superstructure for the sustainable transport bridge is being fabricated and fitted out at Victor Buyck Steel Construction’s production plant in Ghent, Belgium. 

"This process also involves global supply chains for the precision engineering of mechanical components that will control the lifting and closing of the opening spans of the bridge," said the spokesperson.

"The fabrication of the deck sections has now been completed, shot blasted and painted and the various mechanical components have been delivered from across the globe for final fit out in Ghent over the coming months," she added.

Five new access bridges will provide multi-modal access over the existing rail and new greenway corridors providing connectivity between the Ferrybank area, the Greenway corridor, Public Transport Hub, Sustainable Transport Bridge, the North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) development and the city centre.

"The construction of the Transport Hub has reached roof level and the internal ticketing areas, offices, conveniences and public concourse at first floor level are being progressed," said the spokesperson.

"Works to the platforms and rail track are continuing and the internal building fit out and external public entrance plaza at Dock Road will commence in the coming months," she added. Ground works have also commenced on the new pedestrian access bridge to the west of the Transport Hub.

From a traffic perspective, with Fountain Street roadworks nearing completion, the new realigned Abbey Road is taking shape with access to a new dedicated school access lane and set down area for Our Lady of Good Counsel National School.

"New entrance walls and gates are currently being constructed with a new staff parking area and play courts also being provided," said the Council spokesperson.

It's expected that the construction of a new railway flood defence system will also commence imminently and that system will be critical to protect and future proof the existing and new rail infrastructure.

The public infrastructure will also enable the commercial development on the SDZ Site by Harcourt Developments, which will include offices, residential, retail, accommodation, and tourism investment in conference and exhibition facilities, as well as a 4-star hotel and visitor centre. "All of which will be developed to be sustainable, high-quality and climate resilient," said the spokesperson.

"The development places a significant emphasis on improving the public realm through investment in new civic spaces, high-quality transport infrastructure and pedestrian and cycling facilities which will connect Waterford City Centre and the Southeast greenways," she added.

View the progress on the North Quays here