Information night over road closure to be held in Rush

IRISH Water is to hold a drop-in public information evening at Rush Community Centre this Thursday, August 31 (4pm-8pm), on the planned road closure of the R128 (the road between Rush and Skerries).

In recent weeks, local residents have been expressing concern over the road closure plans and how it will impact on their daily lives.   

Irish Water is investing €9.7 million in the Rush wastewater collection project which will benefit over 9,000 residents, tourists and the environment in Rush. 

When completed, it will significantly improve the bathing water at South Beach, North Beach and Harbour Road Beach by stopping the discharge of untreated wastewater (sewage) into the sea. 

Currently, approximately 75 per cent of sewage generated in Rush is discharged untreated into the Irish Sea.

However, Irish Water said the next step of the project necessitates an upgrade of the sewer network along the R128 and will require a phased road closure which has been submitted to Fingal County Council for approval. 

The road closure will take place from Monday, September 11 to Friday, November 24.

On August 31, the Irish Water project team will attend the public information meeting to outline the phased closure of the road and to answer local residents’ queries. 

A spokeswoman for Irish Water said: “The foul sewer currently in place along the R128 is sub-standard and under capacity. 

“This sewer surcharges in periods of high rainfall discharging raw sewage onto the road and adjacent waterways. 

“The most recent event was August 14 after a period of heavy rainfall. The new pipe upgrade will eliminate this problem.” 

Work along the R128 will be constructed in seven phases. The first phase will require a Stop/Go single lane closure to be in place. 

The remaining six phases are at a much deeper depth as the sewer is located 4.5 metres underground and will require 160 metres of road to close at a time as works advance through the phases.

Pedestrian and cycle access will be available for the duration of the work.

Irish Water said two free shuttle bus services, with a capacity to match demand, will be operating for the duration of the work. 

Both buses will run for the duration and schedule of the Dublin Bus Service seven days a week and will pick up and drop off passengers at all the Dublin Bus stops along the route as requested. 

There will be no connection to the Night Link Service.

•Shuttle 1: The bus to take people to Lusk for connection with their regular Dublin Bus service and return them to Rush on their return. The bus will operate from the Skerries Road at Rush to Station Road in Lusk, also serving Rush/Lusk Train Station on the route.

•Shuttle 2: It will run from the work area on the Loughshinny side (this will change depending on the work phase) to Loughshinny Cross to link up with the Dublin Bus service.