Emergency work to make canal gates flood-proof

Emergency works to make safe the flood-risk lock gates at Parkavara will commence next week.

Galway City Council has confirmed that contractors will be on site on Wednesday to begin temporary emergency works including the removal and replacement of the rotted, wooden lock gates.

JBA Consulting Engineers carried out an assessment and identified the lock gates “are in poor condition and there is a risk of failure”.

According to a circular sent by an official at Galway City Council’s Environment Department, if the lock gates fail it would result in flooding with serious consequences.

“Failure would pose risk to property and even life,” the circular said.

Parkavara connects to Canal Road and Mill Street and the lock gate is behind the Róisin Dubh pub on Dominick Street.

Last week, the Galway City Tribune reported flood fears as a result of the damaged lock gates, which are at breaking point. Local historian, Peadar O’Dowd, had also highlighted the urgency of the problem in his column in this newspaper.

The City Council and Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees have designed and fabricated precast concrete stop-logs and have appointed Irish Sea Contractors to carry out works.

The job includes:

■ Carry out a survey on existing stop-logs recesses in the canal wall and also on an existing stop log already in place. Install concrete stop logs and drain the area between the stop logs and lock gates.

■ Secure and seal the stop logs in place and remove any debris from the drained area. Power-wash the lock gates and surrounding structure to allow for a survey.

■ Carry out a structural survey of the lock gate, carry out a topographical survey of the canal chamber, carry out a CCTV survey of the penstock system and ground paddles and bypass chambers.

Galway City Council and the Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees have also appointed Tobin’s Consulting Engineers to carry a screening assessment and conservation architect report in relation to replacing the lock gates in the long-run.

Galway city councillors Niall McNelis (Labour) and Frank Fahy (FG) have both welcomed the works.