Works on bypass – a question of durability not safety says engineer

TRAFFIC management in place between the Killow East Roundabout and the Clareabbey Roundabout is to facilitate the removal of part of the embankment at that section of the Ennis bypass.
Road works have been ongoing since early March, with traffic management in operation since the second week of April.
Brian Eccles, acting project resident engineer for Clare County Council, explained that the work is to remove part of the embankment which was constructed during building of the bypass and replacing it with lightweight fill.
“This work is in connection with the bridge repair on the River Fergus Bridge. It’s a durability issue rather than a safety matter. Neither the road or the bridge is sinking,” he explained.
He added that road structures are designed for a life span of 120 years. “We did not want to face major remedial jobs in future. The road is built on a piled structure. It is built in a river valley and there are always difficult conditions in a river valley. Basically, these are works to ensure the design life of 120 years will be met.”
He confirmed that the work is not being carried out at any cost to Clare County Council. “It is part of the contract that any work necessary in relation to defects would be carried out by the contractor at their own expense. The contractor is Gama Strabag Construction Ltd,” Mr Eccles explained.
He said that it is not envisaged at this stage that any other remedial works will be necessary. The defect was recognised before works on the bypass were concluded, about a year ago.
“The situation had to be monitored for a certain period of time to see how it held up. We had to look at traffic load, as well as temperature effects. It is a steel and concrete structure, which means that it expands and contracts with temperature alterations.
Hot weather makes it worse as it expands but cold weather does not impact negatively on it. These works had to be designed properly so that they would remedy the defect,” he said.
Mr Eccles added that all traffic management is due to be removed before the end of June.