Tender Watch for Roads!

spacetweek wrote: »

I think that's an error? Already U/C.

No, I mean the section of CSRR that will be left between the previous Kinsale Road Flyover project and the current Sarsfield to Bandon Road Upgrade project (near Ballyphehane). I don't think there's a plan for that stretch yet - if it remains the way it is after the opening of the Bandon Road and Sarsfield Flyovers, I can see it becoming a bottleneck fairly quickly - would need at least 3 lanes each way if not 4 IMO. The Kinsale Road Flyover has provision for 6 traffic lanes (5 of which are used) while it appears that the Sarsfield Flyover will also have provision for 6 lanes (looks like 4 will open initially) - this would point to future aspirations on the part of the engineers etc - hence, my speculation on a new Part 8 scheme for widening near Ballyphehane.

Regards!

kennykill wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1110/budget_capital.html

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1110/infrastructure.pdf

Well looks like infrastructure projects are a thing of the past, at least for the next 5-10 years. It's a sad day for many engineers, it's the nail in the coffin for many (including myself). Time to look abroad and leave this place to the dogs. Concentrating on job creation? Trying keeping the ones who have jobs first then you'll have money to create new ones.

I was hoping and praying that we as a country had turned the corner, but given the turmoil in Europe and all these cuts, working in Ireland outside of the public sector is close to impossible. The dream for me is sadly over, I have wanted for years to move back and settle here but now there is no more work, and there won't be work for the next 5-6 years in my sector. Companies are bearly surviving and all the engineers I know have already left. The optimism that I've held onto for so long that Ireland would get better in a few months has finally started to fade away and now facing the reality that I must leave my homeland for a place where I can find stability and work to provide for my future. What kind of country allows that to happen to it's citizens? I wasn't in Ireland during the boom years and now I won't be in Ireland during the bust either.

I empathize with you - the real problem in Ireland and indeed the Western World is that the rich and powerful elite (who don't want to suffer any losses) would rather have the world 'owe' them a living - yes, we're suffering because we (as ordinary people across the globe) are funding a global social welfare system for the rich (through economically unjustified bond payments and low wealth taxation) instead of building worthwhile infrastructure projects like Metro North and DART Underground in the case of Ireland.

It's high time that there was a global agreement to assess the wealthy with a view to obtaining funds in order to plug the current financial holes that have developed (as a result of greed) in the various economies - if we as a country didn't have to pay so much to bond holders etc and that we could tax gains made from the various speculation scams etc, then there would probably be threads on the Infrastructure Forum covering the progress of Metro North and Dart Underground as they're being built beneath our feet - we'd probably be planning the next underground line by now! Also, we wouldn't be looking back on the road building boom - it would still be going on with the M17/N18 Gort to Tuam, well underway along with many a bypass such as Ballaghaderreen, Macroom etc. We would probably be talking about the upcoming opening of the N11 Arklow to Rathnew scheme while we'd be looking for start dates concerning the M11 Enniscorthy Bypass and M20 Cork to Limerick motorways. The M4 Mullingar to Longford Motorway would probably be in the mix too.

In short, the super rich are spongers! :mad:

kennykill wrote: »

Don't get me started on the rich. This country alone has been so corrupt and in bed with the rich, they all watch out for each other.

Do you know where there's a list of what projects will go ahead? Any suggestions in finding out who the consulting engineers are for the various projects?

There isn't any clear list of road projects, but the following (my guess) is about it before 2016 as far as the NRA is concerned:

2012 - N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass (13.6km of Single Type 1);

2012 - N7 NLX (Interchange) and N11 Arklow to Rathnew (16.4km of Dual Type 1) PPP;

2013 - M17/N18 Gort to Tuam and Tuam Bypass (53km of Type 1 Dual and 4km of Type 2 Dual) PPP.

There are other Part 8 Schemes (by Local Authorities) which will involve minor realignments (up to about 3km) as well as a couple of short widening schemes such as that on the M1 Drynam to Lissenhall.

If you have difficulty understanding the terminology with any of the above, I'll be happy to help.

Regards!

kennykill wrote: »

I heard through the grapevine that the Gort/Tuam road hasn't any funding and isn't looking like getting any funding anytime soon. I'm trying to find out who the contractors are and who's the consulting engineers, but chances are they're already have people to fill the positions.

When I mentioned being happy to help with the terminology, I forgot you worked in engineering, so apologies mate!

I think the Main Consulting Engineers for each of the following projects are:

- N7 Newlands Cross Grade Separation: Arup;

- M17 Rathmorrissy to Tuam: PCP;

- N17 Tuam Bypass: Ryan Hanley WSP;

- N18 Gort to Rathmorrissy: McCarthy Hyder Consultants Ltd in association with Tobin.

Can't as of yet get the EIS documents for either the N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass or N11 Arklow to Rathnew.

Hope this helps!

Monday 14th November - 1 Notice:

1) Award: N25 Waterford to Glenmore Ground Investigation Contract (Kilkenny CC).

After another dry period since last Tuesday, an interesting notice (#1) has appeared - an award notice for a ground investigation contract concerning the N25 Waterford the Glenmore project in Kilkenny - Kilkenny County Council must have been expecting funding for the scheme not so long ago - maybe it will be bundled in with the future M11/N25 Enniscorthy/New Ross PPP whenever it manages to get off the ground.

Regards!

Tuesday 15th November - 1 Notice:

1) Tender: Birr Salt Barn & Ancillary Machinery Storage Structure (Offaly CC).

There were a lot of notices like this over the last couple of months - looks like the authorities are taking the road gritting issue a lot more seriously this time (for the coming winter). However, is Offaly CC leaving it a bit late for the above contract? - maybe salt barns can be erected in a relatively short time frame.

Regards!

Thursday 17th November - 2 Notices:

1) Tender: Prequalification Questionnaire for Link Road from Dunmurry Road R401 to Rathbride Road R415, Kildare (Kildare County Council);

2) Prior Info: Motorway Maintenance and Renewals Contract (NRA).

Regards!

PS. I didn't see any notices for Wednesday

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Rumour this may already be awarded and that the job must start in December to keep the funding, it is that bad bend with a junction on it halfway between Tuam and Milltown.

It was tendered out before in 2008 but cancelled thereafter. Award notice may well appear after the diggers are onsite.

Here's another source showing a tender deadline of November 3rd:

http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/Search/Tenders/Expired.aspx?ID=%20000000003467310&sect=R018&cat=15&Source=Categories

2.5km of Type 1 Single I'd guess from the confusing 'Type S2 standard single carriageway' spec. It certainly sounds like a pretty big job which will hopefully become another discussion topic for us should you be right about the start date.

Roll it on!

Tuesday 29th November - 3 Notices:

1) Tender: N59 Moycullen Southern Approach Overlay 2011 (Galway County Council);

2) Tender: N62 Birr to Ballinahown Realignment Scheme (Offaly CC);

3) Contract Notice: N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass Road Project - Design Build Contract (Roscommon CC).

Something at last after a long dry period since Wednesday's notices. Notice #3 is the one we've all been waiting for: 13.6km of Single Type 1 with 1 river bridge, 5 road bridges, 1 accommodation structure and 8.8km of local road realignment. Roll on the the N4 Downs Grade Separation and M1 Lissenhall Upgrade projects.

Regards!

kennykill wrote: »

I can only imagine the amount of under-cutting that's going to go on for the Ballaghaderreen bypass! This project won't generate many new jobs but at least there's a lifeline of sorts for some lucky people!

Along with the N5 Longford Bypass, it should provide jobs indirectly by improved competitiveness - journey times should become more reliable. I'm very surprised that Strokestown isn't bypassed - from a map, it seems like a very simple job as this map shows very clearly. Even with the potential archeological minefield facing an N5 upgrade around Tulsk and Frenchpark, I see no reason why a short Type 2 Single Carriageway can't be built.

Regards!

Fri 2nd December - 3 Notices:

1) Award: Multi-Party Framework Agreement for the Supply of De-Icing Salt for Regional and Local Roads (NRA);

2) Award: NRA Multi Party Framework Agreement For The Supply Of De-Icing Salt For National Roads (NRA);

3) Award: N4 The Downs Grade Separation Design Build Contract (Westmeath CC).

#3 - SIAC has got the job - as well as the New Interchange and associated roads, the project includes the overlay of 5.7km of Dual Carriageway. AKAIK, the plan is to remodel the current at-grade dual carriageway (no hard shoulders) to the standard Type 1 Dual Carriageway. Even though each carriageway will increase from 9.5m to 10.5m, the overall profile will be narrowed as a RCB will replace the current grass median - I saw the WCC plans (PDF Document) to reconstruct the road from the centre out. Full list of Part 8 overlay documents here!

Regards!

MYOB wrote: »

I actually suspect Strokestown would plead NOT to be bypassed. Town's in bits financially, the hotel (which is in examinership) is likely living off its remaining passing trade, ditto their petrol stations.

I've never been wildly delayed there, however a bypass that re-profiled the bend on entry from the Dublin side (couldn't go straight on, think its the GAA club there) and cut across would definitely save a few minutes and help reduce emissions from traffic slowing and speeding up for the entry bends and the roundabout.

Regarding the possibility that Strokestown wouldn't want a bypass - it is typical of the faulty thinking that exists in various parts of the country (N21 in Limerick, N11 in Wexford for example). My take on it is that a good quality road without needless delays or inconvenience would make a region more attractive which should be of benefit to the region as a whole - such would include the towns that are bypassed - especially with greater safety, improved environments and better access. Then there are the points you made regarding emissions not to mention the wear and tear on the cars etc.

Regards!

MYOB wrote: »

Can't find a full link online, but Kildare CC are advertising for civil engineers and similar (3 jobs) for a middling-sized job* on the R402. Doing that suggests they may be planning to do it with their own works dept maybe? They put out a pre-qual for it as a tender during the summer: http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL241775

*10km mostly online but including bypass, from memory.

Yes, I remember this notice and was very surprised by it's appearance - especially given the timing of July (this year). 8.9km of this scheme is going to be a Type 1 (12.3m) Single Carriageway - that section alone is bigger than the N3 Belturbet Bypass project. 1.4km will be of Type 2 Single Carriageway standard while further 0.7km will be Type 3 - that's 11km in all - a big project even by National Road standards! I wonder if anyone can get their hands on a scheme layout map for the project. It seriously looks like this project is going ahead - it must be funded from the Council's own coffers.

Regards!

Thursday 8th December - 1 Notice:

1) Tender: Limerick City Road Resurfacing 2012 (Limerick City Council)...

Regards!

I didn't see any notices for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Friday 9th December - 1 Notice:

1) Award: Purchase of Winter Maintenance Salt Spreaders and to carry out alterations to Council Trucks (Cork County Council).

#1 - Isn't the council leaving it rather late for the purchase of salt spreading equipment when one considers the timing of cold snaps over the last 2 years? The first of last winter's snow spells started in late November - this year, we were very lucky to have a mild November, but December has seen a return to much colder weather - for all we know, we could yet end up with a snow spell before Christmas, so all local authorities should be well prepared by now.

Regards!