Longford County Council working in collaboration with Uisce Éireann to deliver vital water main construction and critical road upgrade works

Coordinated works on N55 to future-proof Ballymahon's water and road networks

Press Release: Friday, 8 August 2025 

Longford County Council will commence critical road upgrades on the N55 working in collaboration with Uisce Éireann who are also set to replace over 5.4km of aged water mains with new pipes along the N55.

The water main construction works are aimed at securing the town's water supply, reducing high levels of leakage, and supporting much-needed growth, bringing significant benefits to the thriving midland town.

The project will take place along the N55 between the Carrickedmond Church and Ballymahon Mart.

Traffic management is necessary to deliver this vital project efficiently and safely. Safety is a key priority at both Longford County Council and Uisce Éireann.

From, Monday, 11 August 2025, the works will be delivered with stop/go traffic management supporting traffic flow in both directions. A road closure is required for the next phase of works to install this large pipework, beginning on Monday, 25 August 2025. The road closure will be in place 24 hours a day until Friday, 28 November 2025. Longford County Council is working in close collaboration with Uisce Éireann and the road closure will support combined works seeing both the delivery of the vital water main construction and the critical road upgrade works.

Traffic flows will be diverted during this time, with local and emergency services access only.

Longford County Council and Uisce Éireann are working in close coordination to minimise the overall disruption to the community and road users during these critical projects.

Speaking about the project Con Diffley, Senior Executive Engineer for Longford County Council said, "The continued investment by Uisce Éireann in the region is welcomed. By collaborating on these two key infrastructure projects, we can reduce the disruption period and deliver lasting improvements to the community's road network.

“We sincerely thank the community and road users for their patience and cooperation during these essential works, which will provide significant benefits for years to come.”

Dave Murphy, Programme Manager with Uisce Éireann, said, "Working in partnership with Longford County Council, we are coordinating two significant upgrades for the Ballymahon community. The water mains replacement will be delivered in conjunction with Longford County Council's road upgrade works—all within the planned closure period.

"We understand that from experience the road closure will cause inconvenience, but by combining these projects, we are limiting the overall impact. This is a case of short-term pain for long-term gain—once complete, the improvements will bring lasting benefits to residents, businesses, and road users.

"The replacement of these old, damaged pipes will have a positive impact on leakage by significantly lowering the instances of bursts and supply disruptions along the network, providing a more secure water supply for local homes and businesses for years to come.

"We would like to extend our thanks to the community in advance for their patience and support as we arrive to deliver this much-needed project to future-proof the water network and support the town to grow."

Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. will carry out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann.

This project is being delivered as part of Uisce Éireann's national Leakage Reduction Programme, which continues to provide significant benefits to communities across Ireland, including improved water quality, provision of a more resilient and sustainable water supply for customers, and considerable water savings. 

Since 2018, Uisce Éireann has invested more than €500 million to upgrade the underground water network across the country through the delivery of the national Leakage Reduction Programme. Uisce Éireann is investing a further €250 million every year up to the end of 2030 - fixing leaks and replacing pipes to provide a more reliable water supply. Uisce Éireann is on target to reduce the national rate of leakage to 25% by 2030, from 46% in 2018.

For more information on the Leakage Reduction Programme, please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks. Customers can also contact Uisce Éireann on 1800 278 278 with any questions about the project.

Uisce Éireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number on our text alerts page.

Uisce Éireann is responsible for delivering public drinking water and wastewater services for the people of Ireland. They are committed to enabling communities to thrive by continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support sustainable growth and development, providing safe drinking water, and enhancing the environment. To find out more, visit www.water.ie.