COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

MOTION NO. 8

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

''That this Area committee ask the Chief Executive to issue a full and detailed report to explain why it has taken so long for 'repairs' into the Clondalkin Boardwalk.  Bearing in mind this issue was highlighted by the Tidy Towns National adjudicator a few times and raised at previous ACMs. What is the delay and when will work be finished? What has been the costs involved in the Boardwalk and its repairs?  Also that this Committee asks for a commitment timeframe of when the work will be completed?" 

REPORT:

The Clondalkin Boardwalk was built in 2006 as part of the upgrade to the Clondalkin Civic Plaza project. This is a timber deck finish on a steel cantilevered structure over the Camac River in Clondalkin village outside the South Dublin County Council Clondalkin Civic office.

The issue of the condition of the Boardwalk has been noted previously, and repairs were carried out.

The repairs, in the original material, have not been of long-term value. As a result, a review has been undertaken to seek a long term and sustainable solution to the Board Walk surface that would avoid continual maintenance.

It has been agreed with the Roads maintenance Department that they will maintain the Boardwalk if an alternative robust material, that has an extended life and minimal maintenance is used to replace the timber deck. The material proposed is granite paving to match the existing pavement in the area. The issue with this approach is that the alternative product is heavier than the current timber deck.

An Engineer was appointed to carry out calculations and certify that the boardwalk structure can take the extra load of concrete over timber. Meetings were held on site to agree proposed construction make-up and to ascertain present condition of existing structure.

The Consultant prepared a Report which included calculations on additional loading and capacity of existing structural steelwork elements and foundations. He also provided drawings for scope of works to allow tenders to be sought for the alternative paved solution.

A maintenance contractor was appointed to carry out repairs that would allow the boardwalk to be opened to the public while the bigger job of the concrete and paving was being procured. However, when sections of the boardwalk were opened up it was discovered that significant areas of the timber substructure which holds the timber decking boards in place had suffered from water damage. This meant that the damage was more widespread than appeared and an interim quick fix was not possible.

This contractor had difficulty getting a commitment from the larger concrete slab manufacturers to supply the slabs on such a small job and an alternative method of procuring the concrete had to be considered. It has been agreed that the job will be tendered using bigger contractors on an existing roads framework. This procurement process will be conducted by a Consultant Engineer in the next few weeks, with contractor appointment following directly. The Programme for the completion of the works will be dependent on the concrete slab delivery and will be agreed when the contractor is appointed.

The reinstatement of the boardwalk has proved to be a complex issue that had to be redesigned from first principals having due consideration for the Health and Safety of the contractors carrying out the work and the public who will enjoy the boardwalk when it is completed.