Tag Archives: groundworks contractor

Lough Boora Visitor Centre & Car Park

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This project involved the Design & Build of a Visitor Centre Building and Car Park Facilities  at Lough Boora Discovery Park, Leabeg, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The aim of the development was to create a central focal point for the various tourist attractions at Lough Boora. The Clients of this contract were Bord na Móna and Bord Fáilte Ireland.

The key challenges involved in this development included the very poor ground conditions as the site was located on peat boglands and adjacent a lake. Some of the key design goals of the project that had to be incorporated into the development included being conscious of the local environment and constructing a building which would complement the Natural Landscape and Wildlife in the area as well as creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly facility. This was accomplished by using natural construction materials and the installation of renewable energy systems, this combined with the construction of a sustainable waste water treatment system provided an eco-friendly development which characterised the ethos of the Discovery Park itself.

The Building itself made use of numerous aspects of construction technologies including Pre-cast Concrete and  Larch Timber Piled Foundations, In-situ reinforced concrete groundbeams & Pile Caps, pre-cast concrete floor slabs, Timber frame Building Structure, Paralon Warm Roof with Sedum Mix Green Roof, Zinc Clad Canopy, Photovoltaic Solar Panel Energy System, Cedar Cladding Building Façade, Air Tightness and high grade thermal insulation, Zero Discharge Willow Bed Wastewater Treatment System, Foul Sewer Septic Tank, Pump Chamber and submersible pumping system, larch timber decking and handrailing, Mechanical and Electrical building Fit-out and high grade internal finishes as well as external ducting, watermain and services installation.

The Project also included the construction of a 126 space car park, 5 space Bus Park and extensive landscaping Works as well as construction of 9 nr, picnic areas, various footpaths and cycle tracks, wetland lake construction with timber pedestrian bridge and timber knee railing and fencing Works. A blockwork bicycle rental building with Cedar Cladding Façade to tie in with main visitor  building was also constructed as part of the development.

For more information on Lough Boora Discovery Park please follow the link below:

http://www.loughboora.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-information/facilities/

Slieve & Corbally OBM 714E

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At this site Iarnród Éireann Level crossing XM100-101 were replaced by a single span skewed over bridge with associated approach embankments and the realignment of three local roads was required.

Works included reinforced earth wing walls, roadways, permanent fencing, safety barrier, drainage and stone pitched headwalls. An overhead telecom was diverted to underground ducting. The level crossing gates were removed and replaced with block work. Accommodation works for farmers included drainage, roadways, culverts and concrete driveways.

Please follow link below to see video of the bridge construction:

https://www.conneelybuilders.com/video-gallery/?catid=cat1&slg=slieve-corbally-co-roscommon

Single Lane Carriageway, Kilnockin. Mallow, Co. Cork

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At this site, Iarnród Éireann manned level crossing number XC227 was replaced by a single lane carriageway with associated works, Dismantling and removal of a steam engine water storage tower, decommissioning of diesel storage tanks, palisade fencing, concrete block boundary wall, reinforced concrete ballast retaining wall, drainage, earthworks, kerbing, lighting, footpaths, landscaping, tarmacadam and surface dressing. Construction was phased in stages to facilitate access to Iarnród Éireann yards and minimise disruption to local traffic.

Sheetpiling at Foxford, Co Mayo

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Upon inspections by Irish Rail, significant subsidence of a railway embankment near Foxford was discovered.

Remedial works were required to stabilise the railway line, consisting of a sheetpiled wall for 160 metres on both sides of the railway line. The approved piles were imported from Asia in 16 number containers into Dublin Port and hauled by road to Foxford Station.  The contract was completed entirely with the company’s own plant and resources. The main equipment consisted of a piling rig compromising of a Movax SPE 50 piling hammer fitted on a Case CX210 25 tonne tracked excavator, specially fitted with rubber tracks for railway work. The piles were hauled to the remote site location  using two atlas 1504 rubber ducks with rail wheels and tilt rotating encon hitch & McCabe grab towing two 5m x 20TN rail trailers. The piles were loaded at Foxford station by a Case CX160B excavator fitted with rotating grab.  The piles were driven to depths of between 7 metres and 13 metres  The piles were supported with a waler beam on both sides and tied across using 40mm threaded bars at 4.5 metre centers. The works were carried out at night during TIII possessions with the railline remaining operational each day for passengers and freight traffic.

Please follow link below to see Movax Piling Hammer in action on Ballinasloe Flood Defence project:

https://www.conneelybuilders.com/video-gallery/?catid=cat1&slg=movax-piling-hammer-ballinasloe-flood-defence

Access Road at Bishopswood, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary

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At this site, Iarnród Éireann manned level crossing number XC128 was replaced by an access road with associated works, boundary treatment, timber post and rail fencing, drainage, filling and surface dressing. Extensive site clearance of existing trees through Coillte owned lands was carried out. The roadway was constructed on very poor ground using geotextiles and geogrid. The geogrid used here was Enkagrid Pro 90 which worked well with the poor ground conditions. The existing level crossing gates were replaced with blockwork wall & a double palisade access gate. A precast concrete culvert, supplied by Banagher Concrete, was installed to replace an existing culvert crossing the new access road.

Noone’s UB121, Rineen, Gort, Co. Galway

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At this site Existing Level Crossing’s XE128 & XE129 were closed and replaced by a 4.50m x 4.50m internal dimension under-bridge, 20m long. The under-bridge was a contractor designed structure.

500m long new access roads were also constructed The installation of the under-bridge took place over 2 days, from 7.00 am Tuesday 16th of June 2009 to 6.00pm on Wednesday 17th of June 2009. The under-bridge is made up of 15no U shaped duct units each weighing approx 20t (i.e. 8no base units and 7no top units). A 350 ton crane was used during the installation both for lifting /replacing the track and also for installing the units.

On day 1, the track was removed, excavation completed, and preparation of base for unit’s. On day 2 the precast units were installed. All sealants and waterproof membranes installed and completion of stitches between units together one erection of temporary handrails.

Please follow link below to see video of precast units being lifted into place:

https://www.conneelybuilders.com/video-gallery/?catid=cat1&slg=installation-of-precast-concrete-underpass-at-gort

Spencer Dock Platform Works

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Construction of Platforms and access stairs from existing roads at new Dockland’s Rail Station. The station was designed of elements that would permit the station to be moved from its current temporary location to its permanent location at a future date. There were many elements to this project such as vibrocompaction to the existing ground to increase bearing capacity for foundations of platform precast units each weighing 27tonne. It involved the piling of all foundations to support ground beams and main building portal frame. Construction of buffer stops, installation of pumping station, surface water attenuation system, associated drainage and services at Spencer Dock, Dublin 1.

Portiuncula Hospital Car Park, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

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Construction of 400 space carpark at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, Co.Galway, including installation of public lighting, drainage, 700m of palisade fencing and landscaping.

Geoghegans OBE 151a

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This project involved the closure of two number Iarnród Eireann Level Crossing’s. The crossings were replaced by a single overbridge and associated approach embankments. The overbridge comprised of a contractor designed structure and contractor designed reinforced earth wing walls. Construction of the new Overbridge consisted of Precast Optri-Cadre units each weighing 36 tonnes and included precast concrete parapet units. A new access road with concrete post and wire fencing was constructed over a length of 1,200m to tie into the existing public road at one end and farm access road at the other end.

Havertys OB158A

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This project involved the closure of three number Iarnród Eireann Level Crossing’s. The crossings were replaced by a single overbridge and associated approach embankments. The overbridge comprised of a contractor designed structure and contractor designed reinforced earth wing walls. Construction of the new Overbridge consisted of 11.50m wide Precast Optri-Cadre units each weighing 36 tonnes and included precast concrete parapet units. The existing level crossing gates were taken down and closed to traffic. The new road was 4 metres wide with concrete post and wire fencing, and constructed over a length of 650m to tie into existing farmer access roads.

Caherduff OB142A

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This project involved the closure of two number Iarnród Eireann Level Crossing’s. The crossings were replaced by a single overbridge and associated approach embankments. The overbridge comprised of a contractor designed structure and contractor designed reinforced earth wing walls. Construction of the new Overbridge consisted of 11.50m wide Precast Optri-Cadre units each weighing 36 tonnes and included precast concrete parapet units. The existing level crossing gates were taken down and closed to traffic. The new road was 4 metres wide with concrete post and wire fencing, and constructed over a length of approximately 1,000m to tie into existing public roads.

Creagh Medical, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

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Construction of 40,000 sq ft new factory to specific Client requirements and specification for the production of medical devices. The project consisted of strip, pad and raft concrete foundations, structural steel frame and Kingspan KS100 cladding and curtain walling as well as an extension Mechanical & Electrical fit out. The works also involved the construction of a Clean Room self contained unit. External works included of the construction of 180 space Carpark to facilitate new factory employees including all associated drainage, ducting, public lighting, linemarking, kerbing & hard & soft landscaping.