The ongoing public realm works in Tramore are set to exceed its budget by 300,000 euro.
It was confirmed by the Council's economic team that the project, which began in January 2020 and had an initial timeline of one year, will cost in the region of 2.4 million euro up from the original budget of 2.1 million euro
Lisa Grant from Waterford Council’s economic department said that closures due to Covid and changes to work practices were largely responsible for the delays.
She was responding to questions from Cllr Eamon Quinlan who said he wouldn't be surprised if the budget overspend was even more:
"A projected €300,000 overspend. I would be pretty sure it will run even further than that when it is all done and dusted. This matters! A few hundred grand here and there has to come out of somewhere. Community groups, cycle lanes, road repairs, etc, it's going to have to be accounted for somewhere in our budget. The Council cannot keep asking the public to back us on these type of large infrastructural projects when the total timeline and cost is so far off what it is meant to be. Yes, it will look well when it is done but how many businesses are fighting for survival now that should never have had to struggle for as long as they are being asked to?"
Green Cllr Cristiona Kiely queried whether the finish time at the end of November was "set in stone" to which Director of Services Fergus Galvin confirmed that it could not be and would be subject to various factors such as weather, which could push the development back even further.
Cllr Kiely, who lives alongside the works, said it was showing signs of being "stunning" and was already bringing new business to the area.
Ongoing works
The end date for the Public Realm works has now moved to November 22nd from the original October 18th which was a delay from an initial August finish date
With works continuing to connect the upper and lower aspects of Tramore and enhance the town’s centre, Waterford City and County Council reports that the paving works on Main Street are close to completion.
Limestone kerbing and steps have been installed adjacent to the Vee Cafe and Seagull Bakery. Currently the paving crew are installing the ‘infill setts’ (Portuguese granite) and assuming favourable weather conditions will complete the works to the junction of Broad Street and Queen Street.
In order to continue the works beyond Queen Street / Broad Street and onto the junction with Strand Terrace, a three to four week road closure will be required and the link from Broad Street to Queen Street will not be open to through traffic.
It is anticipated that these works will have a three-week duration and will be complete towards the end of November. All temporary traffic management and road closures will be notified via MapAlerter, local media and social media.
The contractor has also indicated that following completion of the above works, they will commence on the upgrade of the Gallwey’s Hill and Turkey Road Junction. This will require a two to three-week road closure. However, a firm decision as to when these works will commence will be dependent on the progress on the Main Street works.
Works are also continuing on the link from Market Street into Quish’s SuperValu car park, and these works are expected to be completed in early 2022.
