Author Archives: Mark Conneely

Portlaoise Junction Improvements

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This contract involved the upgrade & enhancement of the existing junctions along the N80 & R445 with Block Road, South Circular Road and Fielbrook Road. The improvement works to the junctions included upgrading of pedestrian and cycle facilities. The works also included the construction of new urban roundabouts. The works will involved raised pedestrian crossings and modified horizontal and vertical alignment. The works also involved traffic calming ramps along local estates. Works on the N80 involved construction of new roundabouts at the N80 & Block Rd Junction and N80 and South Circular Road Junction. Works on the R445 Dublin Road involved new macadam roundabout at the R445 & Fielbrook Road Junction and Realignment of the Block Rd & R445 Junction at the Midlands Hospital prior to installation of new roundabout. Works at all junctions involved new kerbing, ducting & drainage, public lighting, road construction, road resurfacing, concrete & macadam footpaths and pedestrian crossings. This Project was carried out on extremely busy roads and required a very high level of phasing & coordination of the works in order to progress the works as efficiently as possible while minimising impact on traffic. Works on the N80 required completion prior to local schools reopening in September. We Designed & Implemented a Traffic & pedestrian Management plan for each phase of the works in order to achieve this. Traffic Volumes on both theN80 & R445 were 16,000 AADT Works also included the demolition of existing blockwork boundary wall at HSE Regional Hospital and setting back & reinstating further into HSE property to allow widening and realignment of Block Rd & R445 Junction. Works involved removal, restoration and re erection of cast iron railing to the top of the wall which required reworking to suit new radius.

Firhouse Temporary Primary Schools

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This project consisted of the construction of 2nr. 4 classroom temporary primary schools for the Department of Education and Skills on a green field site in Firhouse Co. Dublin. The works comprised of site development and the construction, installation, fit out and commissioning of 2 single storey blocks each containing 4 classrooms, staff offices, resource room, reception, canteen, lobby, corridor and plant room.

We undertook Role of PSCS & Main Contractor for the Works. The project was accelerated on to a rapid build programme as the client required the schools to be operational by September to take in 120 pupils. We commenced works onsite in late May and successfully completed the works in under 16 weeks.

The Temporary School Buildings were constructed using a modular design which enabled the steel frame structure, external and internal walls, roof and floor to be constructed offsite and thus fast tracking the construction process as they were being fabricated simultaneously with the foundations and groundworks ongoing in site. The 12m x 3m building units were delivered to site and installed with a 80Tn mobile Crane. These units were bolted together and internally finished onsite with a full mechanical & Electrical fit out including a PA address system, automated door entry, fire alarm, CCTV, class call system, intercom access, as well as internal doors, ironmongery & joinery, internal painting, polyflor welded vinly floor finish, suspended ceiling, fixtures and fittings.

Aside from the 2 school buildings the works included service installation & connection to Water, Telecoms, Foul Sewer and Drainage, Site clearance and bulk excavation of 3200 m3 of soil, Construction of 200m RC retaining wall with a cranked post welded mesh fence installed on top, construction of a new access road, staff car park and associated footpaths as well as landscaping, perimeter fence and 2 nr. tarmacadam play areas

 

 

Kildare Village Phase 2 – Sheet Piling Works

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This Project involved the Installation of 120m of MX7 Sheet Piles ranging from 6m – 7.5m in length in order to facilitate the construction of a service road around the perimeter of the new shopping facility development. The Sheet Piles propose was to retain the soil outside of the site boundary and allow the service road to be constructed  allowing maximum use of the available development space. The Piles were installed using a Movax SP 50E Vibratory Piling Hammer and a CX210 Excavator. Once erected and clutched  in place a Muller MS-6 HFB was used to drive the piles down to Design Level.

Ashbank Embankment Stabilisation, Inch, Co. Wexford

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This Project involved the installation of 6m long hot rolled steel Z – section AZ-12-770 sheet piles either side of a 120m section of railway track on the Wexford – Dublin Line. The Works were carried out in order to stabilise the embankment which was at risk to subsidence. The works included the installation of a 305x305x97 Wailer beam to the back of sheet piles at a depth of 1.5m below track level, with both sides then being tied together with 63.5mm tie rods, anchor plates and lock nuts.

The Works were carried out during TIII Night time Rail line possessions in order to allow the rail line to remain operational for duration of the works. This required a high level of planning and organisational work to ensure all resources and materials were in place to carry out the work over such a short working time period. There was also a live fibre optic cable running through the work site which had to be exposed, relocated and protected for the duration of the works before being reinstated after the piling works had been completed.

As part of this project the The Railway track was monitored on an on-going basis by carrying out daily track monitoring surveys using a total station to read targets installed at 3m centres along railway track in ensure there was no movement of the track as a result of the piling activities. This monitoring ensured the rail line was safe and fit for purpose and could be kept fully operational with no disturbance to train movements and their passengers.

Slope Stabilisation – Soil Nailing Killarney

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This Project involved the construction of a Soil Nailed embankment retention system and general stabilization works adjacent to Railway Line at Milepost 44 on Tralee – Killarney Line near Dromdoohig Mor, Killarney, Co. Kerry.

This contract included the installation of 190 No. Dywidag MAI type R25N self drilling soil nails which were drilled at 2.5 metre centres horizontally and 2.5 metre centres vertically and to maximum depth of 7.0 metres and anchored in place by injecting with a cement grout before fixing on a layer of MacMat – R Netting using 300 by 300 mm galvanised plates.

Ancilliary work to include setting up working compound adjacent to roadway and railway line with appropriate traffic management and safety warnings as per NRA guidance and liaising with Kerry Co. Co / Irish Rail / Gardai etc. Other works to include for installation of filter drains, trimming back vegetation and loose spoil, removal of spoil off site and testing of nails.

Weston Airport Restaurant & Kitchen Refurbishment

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Conneely Building & Civil Engineering have carried out substantial upgrade works at Dublin Weston Airport over the last number of years in order to modernise and rejuvenate the existing airport facilities as well expanding them. As part of these works the restaurant and commercial kitchen in the main terminal airport building were completely refurbished. The restaurant dining area, bar and kitchen as well as adjacent store rooms were stripped of all fixtures, fittings and equipment and internal partitions demolished to facilitate expansion of kitchen area and open plan dining area.

A new restaurant bar was constructed with walnut timber frame and frosted glass panels finished with a Zimbabwe Black Granite Countertop. The bar was full equipped with draught line cooler system, 3 nr. double door low level fridge units, Coffee making facilities, stainless steel internal bar shelving units and a 8m3 cold room keg storage.

The Dining area was upgraded by installing a new solid timber walnut floor, hi-level moulded skirting, walnut doors, complete new lighting fit out including LED spot lighting, construction of new walnut wine bar/reception desk, new ventilation system installation, new suspending ceiling construction, as well as entire re-painting of area and fit-out with new tables and chairs.

The kitchen also received a complete refurbishment over doubling its size and providing a new high grade commercial kitchen. the works included installation of a new extract ventilation system, stainless steel cooling units, sinks, food preparation tables as well as a full equipment fit out consisting of a bain marie with heated food pass, dishwasher, Convection oven, grills, fryers, walk-in cold room storage and freezer units. Anti slip R12 rated tiles were also installed as well as hygienic PVC wall cladding and hygienic grade suspended ceiling tiles. There was a considerable mechanical and electrical services installation involved in servicing the new equipment including a complete re-installation of all gas piping and connections.

As part of these works a new Fire safety system was implemented, with smoke & heat detectors, break glass units and emergency sounders installed throughout restaurant, fire builddoor installation as well as one hour fire proof partition wall construction.

OBR65 Sydney Parade Bridge Replacement

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This project involved the fabrication and installation of a new structural steel footbridge over the Dublin to Wexford rail line at Sydney Parade DART Station. The Works were carried out over a very strict time-frame of 50hrs during which the DART line was closed. This required the implementation of a highly coordinated and detailed management plan in order to successfully complete the required works and reopen the DART line for passengers on Monday morning. In order to facilitate these works an extensive traffic and pedestrian plan was implemented.

The works involved establishing a base to set up a 200TN mobile telescopic crane in order to install bridge components. Enabling works were carried out in order to facilitate installation of the bridge and implement working practices in compliance Iarnród Éireann Safety Standards. The Bridge installation involved the placement of 8nr. precast concrete foundation pads along the platform, before the steel support columns were lifted in and fixed in place, the steel stair units were then lifted into place before the bridge deck itself was installed and fixed in place.

Other works in the contract involved new ducting for lighting to the bridge,removal, relocation and reinstatement of lighting columns, Installation of ducting, installation of lighting to bridge, decommissioning of lighting on existing bridge, reinstatement of drainage, surfacing and line marking to the platform.

OB39 Bridge Replacement Works, Rush & Lusk Station

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Brian Conneely & Co acted as Main Contractor & PSCS on this project and coordinated the Design & construction works on this project.The works involved the Development & Implementation of Safe Methods of Works and Environmental Management System Including temporary works design for crane lifting & precast propping. Development & implementation of detailed method statements & risk assessments for bridge removal, precast abutment installation, precast bridge beam installation, precast run-on slabs installation, diversion of services, construction of road base. Implementation of quality procedures & checks including, cube testing of concrete and reinforcing steel cover.

Design & Implementation of an extensive Traffic Management plan on R128 with AADT of over 5000 vehicles. Traffic Management involved single lane closures to allow 1 week of preparation works & 1 week of completion works. The bridge removal was carried out in a 5 day road closure over bank holiday weekend with a 4 mile diversion route implemented.  The bridge location was on the primary route between the commuter towns of Rush & Lusk. Due to the site being located at the Rush & Lusk Train Station there was a significant pedestrian management plan in place to facilitate continued use of the rail station & carpark.

Exposure & protection of existing services including Electrical & Fibre Optic cabling for the works. Construction of site compound including hardstand area for 500t crane. Excavation of the existing embankment to allow installation of precast abutments for extending the bridge width. Demolition and cutting of the existing steel framed concrete bridge using excavator & rock breakers and Gas cutting equipment to allow removal in 3 sections using 500t crane. Preparation of existing masonry walls and installation of 2 nr bedstones & 5 nr precast beams above existing masonry wall and new precast abutment. The largest precast units, weighing 36tn, were the edge beams with precast parapet walls. Doweling & Pressure Grouting of the new Bedstones with 50mm diameter SS dowels, 3m into the masonry abutment & new precast abutment walls. Installation of 12 nr Precast L Units on both sides of the bridge as run on slabs. Due to the bridge being on a skew, these works involved excavation and preparation of the existing road boundary walls & hedges and realignment of the approach roads. Installation of reinforcing steel & ducting, Twinwall sewer pipe, diversion of services and pouring of concrete to construct the stitches between the precast bridge beams and precast L units. The bridge deck & L units were completed with Sterling Lloyd Hytec waterproofing. The rrush01 rush10 rush11 rush02 ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? rush05 ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? rush08 rush09oad was reinstated with 60mm DBM and 50mm HRA surfacing.

Other Works included Construction of kerbed rubbing strip on one side of bridge deck construction of 2m wide concrete footpath to tie into existing paths on the other side of the bridge, Installation of 120m of H2W2 safety barrier on approaches roads.

Oranmore Parkway Station

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The Oranmore Parkway Station is a 174m long single passenger platform constructed in the townland of Garraun South along the existing Dublin to Galway Line. Due to the level differences between the platform and existing ground level a 200m contractor designed stone clad RC wall was constructed to heights up to 5m. The area behind this retaining wall was filled with Cl804 Type B granular fill and a RC foundation was formed for the precast Z-units to be installed, which formed the platform structure. The Retaining wall was clad with a limestone finish and a stairs constructed to link platform and car park below.

In addition to the construction of the platform, this project included  construction of the TER room, installation of the services and drainage networks, fencing works as well as substantial Mechanical & Electrical works including, CCTV, Public Address & Lighting systems installation.

In order to construct the platform the rail line had to be raised by 400mm over 430 linear metres. These works were undertaken during a 36hr track possession. The Works included regrading & improvement works to the existing embankment, installation of two precast ballast retaining units at the existing Under Bridge, removal of rail panels in 18m sections, excavation of existing ballast, placing of geogrids,  geotextiles & 6N material to required level, installation of Multiduct UTX crossing, Replace Ballast, reinstate track sections, placing of ballast for tamping, placing of additional ballast after tamping and lay 470m of cable troughing over the following series of nights

Due to changing levels along the rail line, the adjacent level crossing to the platform also required modification and upgrading works. Resurfacing works to Level Crossing XG167 were carried out in two phases to facilitate the changing of track levels in Oranmore for the new railway station and tamping of the line.

 

 

Charleville Station Pedestrian Bridge & Liftshafts

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This project involved the construction of a pedestrian Bridge and 2 no. Lift shafts at Charleville Station, Co. Cork. The objective of the project was to render the station accessible to mobility and visually impaired customers in accordance with the relevant legislation. The works includes site clearance, demolition, drainage, ducting, kerbing, the erection of lighting columns, the placement of street furniture, line marking and signposting and installation of 2 no. precast Lift shafts, precast bridge deck and Stairs & erection of steel mesh parapets and handrails. Electrical work such as new power supply to support station services, lighting, CCTV installation, setting up help points, induction loops etc.

Ceannt Station Galway

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This Contract involved the rejuvenation of Ceannt Station Bus station and upgrade of the existing services and Customer Information Services (CIS). The works involved replacement of the existing footpaths and installation of new and extended paved areas to include bus bays, bicycle parking, walkways and street furniture.

New Service ducts, drainage and Watermain main including connections to buildings & hydrants were also installed prior the car park being resurfaced. Works also entailed new external lighting, automatic barriers, signage, handrails, bollards and passenger information displays.