Waterford City Public Infrastructure Project

The Waterford City Public Infrastructure Project will put in place the key infrastructural elements necessary to underpin the functional viability of the Waterford North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and facilitate the natural expansion of the city to the northside.

The development of the SDZ site will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the city and region by transforming a 8.23-hectare, former industrial site into a vibrant, mixed-use development comprising high-quality retail, hotel, office, tourism and cultural facilities. 

The first phase of the development is due to commence in 2027. It includes a hotel, over 400 residential units, a greenway connection, a large public plaza and the infrastructure required to connect the River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge, which is currently under construction, with a new railway station along Dock Road in Ferrybank.

The project comprises:

• 1.3km of urban dual carriageway and local road upgrades in the Ferrybank area, significant junction works, and bridge connections to the SDZ site across the Waterford to Rosslare Railway
• a new train station and transport hub directly adjacent to the SDZ and Dock Road in Ferrybank
• a 207m long pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Suir
• a 5000m² plaza on the south side of the river to connect the new bridge to the existing city centre
• significant flood defences along 2km of the river and railway line 
• associated railway drainage and pumping stations to future-proof new and existing rail and road infrastructure on the north side of Waterford
• 400m of rock face stabilisation works to the railway cutting adjacent to the existing railway station, which will dovetail with track upgrade and signalling works being undertaken independently by Irish Rail
• a new foul and surface water pumping station in Ferrybank to replace the existing pumping station located on the North Quays site

ROD is working in conjunction with the following subconsultants to provide planning, preliminary design, detailed design, tender, construction supervision and handover services for the entire project:

• H&H and Knight Architects on the River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge and associated south plaza
• Sean Harrington Architects, Nolan Construction Consultants and J.V. Tierney & Co. Consulting Engineers on the transport hub
• Nicholas O’Dwyer Ltd. on the Ferrybank pumping station and the flood defence works

River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge

The 207m, five-span bridge across the River Suir Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is designed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and a local public transport shuttle bus. It incorporates an opening centre span to allow river traffic to pass through. 

Transport hub

Located directly adjacent to the centre of the north quays site, the integrated, multi-modal transport hub is set to become the first transport interchange hub between rail, bus, cars, cyclists and pedestrians in Ireland.  

Waterford (Plunkett) Railway Station will be relocated onto the site and complemented by:

• a bus set down area 
• short-term parking facilities 
• a link with the proposed Waterford to New Ross Greenway
• a connection to the River Suir Sustainable Transport Bridge 

In addition to supporting a modal shift towards walking, cycling and public transport, the development will provide more sustainable access to the historic centre of the city. 

Access infrastructure scheme

The access infrastructure scheme consists of extensive road improvements and the realignment of existing roads on Dock Road and in the Abbey Road area respectively. Two new road bridges provided over the Waterford to Rosslare rail line will enable traffic to access the North Quays site from the surrounding road network. Two additional road bridges provided over the old New Ross railway line alignment will be used for the Waterford to New Ross Greenway.

Rock stabilisation works

The rock stabilisation works are designed to prevent or reduce the risk of future rockfall events along the 400m-long rock cutting adjacent to the existing Plunkett station. The works, which consist of catch fencing, rock bolting, rock netting and reinforced earth berms, will facilitate the transit of passenger trains to the new transport hub train station c. 1km to the east. 

Flood defence and railway corridor drainage works

The flood defence and railway corridor drainage works comprise:

• c. 1.6km of new sheet pile wall hard flood defences in an urban area and tidal environment
• 400m of remedial works to existing flood defences
• c. 2km of drainage works 
• two permanent pumping stations 
• under track crossing outfalls to the River Suir

The reconfiguration of the narrow (40m to 100m) riverside side site posed particular challenges for the team in terms of access. Considerable ingenuity was required to design a circulation network that could unlock the full potential of the site.

• Planning
• Strategic Environmental Assessment 
• Appropriate Assessment 
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 
• Preliminary design
• Detailed design
• Tender
• Contract procurement
• Employer’s Representative
• Construction supervision
• Handover services