www.lmkeating.ie L&M Keating Ltd, Kilmihil, Building & Civil Engineering Contractors.

Dredging Ireland's Grand Canal

The second phase started in January…
Due to complete next month, the €363,000 project's funded by the government under its 2007-2013 National Development Plan and was awarded to County Clare contractor L&M Keating, which will dredge about 1.3km of the 131km-long, 200-year-old canal using a standard long reach excavator "and possibly a swamp undercarriage where ground conditions are poor", DPC was told by client Waterways Ireland.

The navigation channel will be deepened to 2m and "the work will involve de-watering the sections and removal of sediment deposits from the central navigation channel and the clearance of rubbish".

L&M Keating has worked with Dublin City Council on traffic management planning to keep disruption to a minimum and had "extensive discussions with the National Parts and Wildlife Service on measures to minimise impact on sensitive habitats within the canals", said Waterways Ireland.

"The Grand Canal stretches from Dublin to the Shannon with 43 locks," they added, "and its purpose was to bring produce to Dublin and facilitate the movement of goods and people westward. One of the famous products using the canals in those days was Guinness. Now used for recreation by the 1.5m people who live along its banks, the Grand Canal is an essential element of Dublin's green spaces."

Dredging and Port Construction Magazine, March 2011