By Lynda Myer
Following the start of digging process in the grounds of a primary school, a project with a £2.5M value to help decrease sewer flooding in a village in South Lanarkshire has passed a landmark.
In order to install larger sewer pipes and a manhole, a section of the car park at Stonehouse Primary school will be open cut.
Scottish Water’s delivery partner Caledonia Water Alliance is responsible for works in this project.
Once the tunnel boring machine broke into difficult ground conditions, namely hard rock, this section of the project was reassessed and re-designed, while the contractor had previously scheduled to tunnel beneath the grounds and pitch of the school.
After pipelaying is complete, the school grounds will be reinstated to their prior condition.
In order to assist divert storm waters to a sewer with greater capacity, this work is undergoing as a part of the project to lay a new sewer pipe in the land among Vicars Road and Spital Road in Stonehouse.
The intention of this program is to minimize disruption while the school is closed.
Considering that the Scottish Water has been working closely with the school, in order to see the tunneling machine in action and to hear about site safety children have already attended an organized visit.
According to Scottish Water’s corporate affairs manager for the west Georgina Reid: “We were keen to minimize any disruption to the school and it was decided that this section of work would be best carried out over the holidays. However, it is important to note that this is a live construction site, and as always, we would ask parents and carers to remind young children these sites are not playgrounds and to be aware of staying safe.”
Commencing on Monday 29 August, this next phase of the project needs a road closure on Townhead Street for three months.
Starting date of this work is October 2021, while it is currently expected to be finished this autumn or winter.
