Parts of Glanmire flood prevention works to be finished by end of September, says council

When completed, it is anticipated the scheme will provide protection to up to 103 properties — 25 commercial premises and 78 houses

The engineering company Sorensen working in October 2023 on the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme in Glanmire. Quick-thinking Sorensen workers diverted flood waters during Storm Babet so they didn’t inundate the shopping centre and the adjacent Meadowbrook estate. Picture: Larry Cummins

Vital major flood prevention works in Glanmire should be completed by the end of next month, according to Cork City Council.

The long-mooted flood works will be essential in protecting many businesses and homes deluged there in June 2012, local figures have said.

Sorenson, which is the main contractor for the €20m-plus scheme, has changed its initial plans to focus on speeding up parts of the project which directly protect homes in particular.

Currently a new earth embankment and flood defence walls are being constructed along the banks of the River Glashaboy at Sallybrook. A new elevated entrance bridge at Copper Valley Vue estate is under construction along with other remedial works there.

Houses at the lower end of the estate have been flooded on a number of occasions, the latest being during last October’s Storm Babet.

A new culvert is being put in at nearby Brooklodge Grove, running under the New Line (Knockraha Road), and a new bridge is being installed at the New Line, east of the M8.

A spokeswoman for Cork City Council said all of these structures are currently on track to be completed by the end of next month.

In recent weeks, works have also started on the widening of Hazelwood Bridge next to the entrance to the shopping centre. When this has been completed, additional junction upgrade works will start at Hazelwood Road/R639.

Meanwhile, work is nearing completion on the installation of a new culvert on the Cois na Gleann stream, next to Circus Field in Riverstown.

This stream burst its banks during Storm Babet and quick-thinking Sorensen workers diverted the flood waters so they didn’t inundate the shopping centre and the adjacent Meadowbrook estate.

The engineering company Sorensen working in October 2023 on the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme in Glanmire. It is estimated that the entire scheme will be completed by the summer of 2026. Picture: Larry Cummins

More than 400 metres of flood defence walls have now been installed around Meadowbrook and work will be ongoing in that area for the rest of the summer.

Works in Meadowbrook also include the upgrading of the drainage network and construction of a new pumping station to help protect the 49 homes there.

Sorenson is also carrying out dredging works on the River Glashaboy adjacent to this estate. The contractors have also been carrying out repairs to walls and bridges which were damaged in the Glanmire village area during recent flooding.

When completed, it is anticipated the scheme will provide protection to approximately 103 properties (25 commercial premises and 78 houses) against a one-in-100 years flood event.

It is estimated that the entire scheme will be completed by the summer of 2026.