the siege of northgate street

finky1 · 03-05-2014 9:18pm #1

when is the street opening i thought it was suppose to be only a week closed

roosterman71 · 04-05-2014 9:16am

I wonder will they put the road back to its original state? The roads they've done around town are a disgrace

L.Jenkins · 04-05-2014 4:36pm

Sadly they won't return the roads to their previous state, since it's not the Companies responsibility. However, if I get a puncture in the meantime, I wonder would they appreciate a bill as much as I appreciate a blown tyre.

cena · 04-05-2014 7:59pm

I have heard the you won't be able to get into the town soon as it well be closed off the traffic for new pipe laying

roosterman71 · 04-05-2014 8:40pm

Itzy wrote: »

Sadly they won't return the roads to their previous state, since it's not the Companies responsibility. However, if I get a puncture in the meantime, I wonder would they appreciate a bill as much as I appreciate a blown tyre.

Really? Surely they are responsible for putting it back the way they got it

nice_guy80 · 05-05-2014 10:13am

roosterman71 wrote: »

Really? Surely they are responsible for putting it back the way they got it

no.
they pay the council for every metre they dig up, and the council are then responsible.

walrusgumble · 06-05-2014 1:28pm

Here what is the story with North Gate Street. I hear when a group (who?) were digging, they found part of the old town wall. It that true?

Any news , update, links?

whyulittle · 06-05-2014 1:32pm

They found the foundations of the North Gate. They are remaining in place, with the pipes running alongside them.

charlieIRL · 07-05-2014 1:29pm

the town bridge is being reduced to one lane for the works shortly too - gonna be some fun driving through town when that happens.

cena · 07-05-2014 3:12pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

the town bridge is being reduced to one lane for the works shortly too - gonna be some fun driving through town when that happens.

i heard it was to be closed off for six weeks.

charlieIRL · 07-05-2014 3:17pm

no way? Fully closed off or just one lane?

cena · 07-05-2014 3:19pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

no way? Fully closed off or just one lane?

fully closed off.

BoB_BoT · 07-05-2014 4:18pm

Well considering for Northgate Street we were told it would be a minimum of 1 week, we are now into week 5. I wouldn't be too optimistic on a "6" week completion date.

07-05-2014 7:20pm

BoB_BoT wrote: »

Well considering for Northgate Street we were told it would be a minimum of 1 week, we are now into week 5. I wouldn't be too optimistic on a "6" week completion date.

Well they got that bit right.

Lenin Skynard · 11-05-2014 1:06pm

Any rumours/inside info on when Northgate street will open again? It's been a long time now. I don't think I've seen any workers in there in weeks.

BoB_BoT · 11-05-2014 8:58pm

They were filling in paths and putting down tarmac on Thursday/Friday. We're now into week 6 tomorrow. When it will be back open, your guess is as good as any.

whyulittle · 13-05-2014 11:36pm

Passed through town at about 10 tonight and it looks like Northgate Street is open again! I didn't actually go down it but the barriers which were still there earlier in the day were cleared so I presume it's fully open.

BoB_BoT · 14-05-2014 10:13am

Yup, the road is back open and the diggers are gone... for now.

After all that, we have very low water pressure today... I hope they don't have a leak somewhere.

whyulittle · 14-05-2014 1:06pm

We got a letter in the door saying water would be off altogether today from 8:00 until 16:00 as they connect up the new pipe.

BoB_BoT · 18-05-2014 5:38pm

whyulittle wrote: »

We got a letter in the door saying water would be off altogether today from 8:00 until 16:00 as they connect up the new pipe.

Well that would explain that, I must have missed the letter.

finky1 · 05-07-2014 2:31pm

how long will church street be shut no one working
on saturday or sunday diggers just parked no work
beign done

Long Gone · 05-07-2014 2:34pm

finky1 wrote: »

how long will church street be shut no one working
on saturday or sunday diggers just parked no work
beign done

How long is a piece of string ? It's an absolute sick joke to close off the whole centre of the town to traffic and make Athlone a town to be completely avoided at what should be the busiest time of the year for business. .:mad:

finky1 · 05-07-2014 3:18pm

mullingar rules athlone no digging beign done their

Long Gone · 05-07-2014 4:38pm

finky1 wrote: »

mullingar rules athlone no digging beign done their

I can only assume that you meant to state "Mullingar rules Athlone, no digging (well done) being done there" - How profound....:)

L.Jenkins · 05-07-2014 4:50pm

Long Gone wrote: »

How long is a piece of string ? It's an absolute sick joke to close off the whole centre of the town to traffic and make Athlone a town to be completely avoided at what should be the busiest time of the year for business. .:mad:

The town is a fucking disgrace at the moment. They've blocked off Church Street and works are being/have been done along Grace Road also. I'm sure that's not the end of it either, since it's the water mains that are being updated. Then we have to wait until the Council take the finger out and repair the roads, which knowing them, will be a piss poor job instead of a complete resurface throughout the town where works have been done and resurfacing is desperately needed. And all this is going on during the Triathlone causing further disruption and frustration.

Long Gone · 05-07-2014 5:41pm

Itzy wrote: »

I'm sure that's not the end of it either, since it's the water mains that are being updated.

It's unbelievable that the town roads are in the state they're in for the TreAthlone weekend......

I have a strong suspicion that the main reason reason that they are updating the mains is to facilitate the installation of water meters to extort even more money from the already suffering tax payers. Why don't they just go the whole hog and bring back taxes on windows like Cromwell and his mob subjected us to ? They've already imposed a sick and completely unfair tax on the family home in the form of the completely unjust property tax ! How much longer are the Irish sheeple going to put up with this incompetent and unfair nonsense from our self-serving, overpaid so-called politicians ? .:mad:

roosterman71 · 05-07-2014 6:21pm

Long Gone wrote: »

It's unbelievable that the town roads are in the state they're in for the TreAthlone weekend......

I have a strong suspicion that the main reason reason that they are updating the mains is to facilitate the installation of water meters to extort even more money from the already suffering tax payers. Why don't they just go the whole hog and bring back taxes on windows like Cromwell and his mob subjected us to ? They've already imposed a sick and completely unfair tax on the family home in the form of the completely unjust property tax ! How much longer are the Irish sheeple going to put up with this incompetent and unfair nonsense from our self-serving, overpaid so-called politicians ? .:mad:

So to summarise, the roads are a disgrace
In other news, the bypass is supposed to be down to one lane some time this month too for bridge repairs. Dunno what bridge, just glanced over an article in the advertiser one day

L.Jenkins · 05-07-2014 6:26pm

The current tax system is a load of bollocks and it's a topic for another day. Back to the current state of Athlone, it's in an utter state and a complete embarrassment, given the weekend that's in it. I wouldn't be surprised if it turned some people off next years Triathlon, given that those who planned the works being done couldn't plan a piss up in a brewery.

Long Gone · 05-07-2014 8:01pm

roosterman71 wrote: »

So to summarise, the roads are a disgrace
In other news, the bypass is supposed to be down to one lane some time this month too for bridge repairs. Dunno what bridge

That would be the bridge over the Shannon !

Saint_Mel · 06-07-2014 8:38am

finky1 wrote:

how long will church street be shut no one working on saturday or sunday diggers just parked no work beign done

Work due to start Monday apparently. Workers were told to leave fencing and machinery in place over the weekend to have it ready to start. So I was told anyway by one of the businesses anyway

Saint_Mel · 06-07-2014 8:39am

Long Gone wrote:

I have a strong suspicion that the main reason reason that they are updating the mains is to facilitate the installation of water meters to extort even more money from the already suffering tax payers .ï¿¼

I thought that was the only reason for the works!

Long Gone · 06-07-2014 9:38am

Saint_Mel wrote: »

Work due to start Monday apparently. Workers were told to leave fencing and machinery in place over the weekend to have it ready to start. So I was told anyway by one of the businesses anyway

Are they working a nighshift on it to get the work finished as as quickly as possible ? - If they're not it's even more of a disgrace ! :mad: The town is in a complete state of paralysis and chaos at the moment.....

roosterman71 · 06-07-2014 11:26am

Long Gone wrote: »

That would be the bridge over the Shannon !

OK. Could of been any of the bridges on the bypass. Don't recall seeing which bridge in the article I skimmed over

veryangryman · 09-07-2014 4:04pm

roosterman71 wrote: »

OK. Could of been any of the bridges on the bypass. Don't recall seeing which bridge in the article I skimmed over

Its the bypass (or as the Westmeath Indo stupidly named it "The Road To Hell).

09-07-2014 6:21pm

I went for a walk through the town today, quietest I have ever seen it.

Long Gone · 09-07-2014 10:41pm

veryangryman wrote: »

Its the bypass (or as the Westmeath Indo stupidly named it "The Road To Hell).

The Westmeath Indo stupidly names lots of things - A few years ago the Editor was constantly referring to Westmeath as "The lake County" - A name that he had made up. They are also responsible for constantly referring to The Far Side as "The Left Bank" .:mad: - God I hate that sort of rubbish ! .:rolleyes:

Long Gone · 09-07-2014 10:43pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I went for a walk through the town today, quietest I have ever seen it.

I'm absolutely convinced that most people are avoiding the centre of town at the moment because of these ridiculous road works.

cena · 09-07-2014 11:55pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I went for a walk through the town today, quietest I have ever seen it.

I did that last saturday. Not a person around even with race on near the castle

BoB_BoT · 10-07-2014 10:01am

I was speaking to customers over the last few weeks, they're holding off on coming into town unless absolutely necessary as they didn't want to get stuck in traffic.

When the works first started in Church Street, it took me 25 minutes to get from Northgate Street to Golden Island. In the last week or so, it's the normal amount of time 5-10 at a push. Goes to show that people are avoiding the town or bypassing it altogether.

L.Jenkins · 10-07-2014 10:25pm

Saint_Mel wrote: »

I thought that was the only reason for the works!

They're upgrading the mains supply as well. People won't pay for glorified piss as Luke Flanagan so mildly put it.

Long Gone wrote: »

Are they working a nighshift on it to get the work finished as as quickly as possible ? - If they're not it's even more of a disgrace ! :mad: The town is in a complete state of paralysis and chaos at the moment.....

If they work night shifts, I'd be impressed. It's also as likely as me wiping my árse with €50 notes for the next week.

BoB_BoT wrote: »

I was speaking to customers over the last few weeks, they're holding off on coming into town unless absolutely necessary as they didn't want to get stuck in traffic.

When the works first started in Church Street, it took me 25 minutes to get from Northgate Street to Golden Island. In the last week or so, it's the normal amount of time 5-10 at a push. Goes to show that people are avoiding the town or bypassing it altogether.

Not a joke, but you're best bet is to head for the Motorway down by B and Q and get off at Garrycastle. A little extra mileage, but may reduce the time it takes to get around town.

Lenin Skynard · 11-07-2014 1:48pm

Itzy wrote: »

Not a joke, but you're best bet is to head for the Motorway down by B and Q and get off at Garrycastle. A little extra mileage, but may reduce the time it takes to get around town.

To get from Northgate Street to Golden Island

Sure that's mad ted.

L.Jenkins · 11-07-2014 9:46pm

It is, but with traffic from the town bridge also trying to get to golden island via the station road and the traffic lights in between.......

Lenin Skynard · 12-07-2014 7:54pm

Itzy wrote: »

It is, but with traffic from the town bridge also trying to get to golden island via the station road and the traffic lights in between.......

Yeah you'll still be ten times quicker and burn ten times less fuel by heading up Garden Vale.

Long Gone · 13-07-2014 9:12pm

Unbelievable ! ! - Not only are they not working a nightshift to get the work done as quickly as possible, they're not even working weekends ! .:mad:

They're probably going home for lunch every day ! :rolleyes: - The people responsible for this work obviously couldn't care less about the inconvenience to the public and the loss of money to traders while this work drags on at a snails pace...... Pathetic ! :mad:

We're being taxed and stealth taxed and unjustly and unfairly taxed within an inch of out lives and this is the kind of public services we get in return ! . :mad:

veryangryman · 17-07-2014 11:12am

Smartarse reply to a mail i sent about what is going to be done about the state of the roads. I detect a hint of the council not particularly liking irish water.

Thank you for your email. I shall endeavour to include any of your suggestions which are relevant when next discussing the temporary reinstatement (as it is now)and permanent reinstatement, to be placed after 6 months settlement in the trench, with the Contractor who are employed by Irish Water.
Regards,

Grahame Niven
SEE Water Services
Resident Engineer
Athlone Water Main Rehabilitation Project
gniven@westmeathcoco.ie

roosterman71 · 17-07-2014 11:53am

veryangryman wrote: »

Smartarse reply to a mail i sent about what is going to be done about the state of the roads. I detect a hint of the council not particularly liking irish water.

Thank you for your email. I shall endeavour to include any of your suggestions which are relevant when next discussing the temporary reinstatement (as it is now)and permanent reinstatement, to be placed after 6 months settlement in the trench, with the Contractor who are employed by Irish Water.
Regards,

Grahame Niven
SEE Water Services
Resident Engineer
Athlone Water Main Rehabilitation Project
gniven@westmeathcoco.ie

I can understand waiting for it to settle, but a better effort should be made to tar the trench instead of lobbing it in from a distance.
Also, 6 months from the time it was laid is getting dangerously close to Christmas. Are they gonna close up the whole place again then?

Long Gone · 17-07-2014 1:26pm

roosterman71 wrote: »

6 months from the time it was laid is getting dangerously close to Christmas. Are they gonna close up the whole place again then?

Of course they are - This is Ireland ! - The whole thing has been designed to cause the maximum possible disruption and inconvenience to the general public and maximum loss of business to the Church Street traders. .:mad:

I have a feeling that the Church Street Traders Ball this Christmas will be a very austere event.......:(

Lenin Skynard · 18-07-2014 4:39pm

Long Gone wrote: »

I have a feeling that the Church Street Traders Ball this Christmas will be a very austere event.......:(

Northgate Street is fine now though, these guys will be partying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZI_aEalijE

finky1 · 21-07-2014 10:46pm

rumours the workers are on holidays soon and work will stop until they come back
they are off to galway races whenever that is

Long Gone · 22-07-2014 8:43am

finky1 wrote: »

rumours the workers are on holidays soon and work will stop until they come back
they are off to galway races whenever that is

That's an absolute disgrace ! No other country would tolerate that kind of nonsense .:mad:

veryangryman · 22-07-2014 9:21am

finky1 wrote: »

rumours the workers are on holidays soon and work will stop until they come back
they are off to galway races whenever that is

Rumours? Or just the fact that construction workers generally holiday during race week.

Wow world exclusive.

the siege of northgate street

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