LATEST: Parts of Waterford’s North Quays project ‘well-advanced’ as council issues update

Waterford City and County Council has issued an update on the status of the North Quays project.

Works on the sustainable transport bridge will be completed over the coming months.

Pedestrian barriers, edge railings and glass panels will be installed, with surfacing and lighting works also set to commence over the coming weeks.

As well as that, the temporary steel supports are due to be removed from the river over the coming weeks.

The South Quays Plaza is described as being “well advanced” and is partly open to the public.

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It will provide a landscaped public realm area with seating, lighting, green area and bicycle facilities.

The glass flood defence barrier has been installed along the river, and the plaza works are expected to be complete in early 2026.

However, final snagging checks and safety audits have yet to be completed in advance of the full area being open to the public.

Public access from the South Plaza to the sustainable transport bridge will be closed off and secured until the bridge opens to the public in 2027.

Finishing works are also continuing to the train station building, including mechanical and electrical fitout and other internal finishing works.

The platforms are described as “substantially complete” and works are being completed to the northern plaza and set-down areas.

These works include landscaping, lighting, street furniture and bicycle facilities.

Works on the station’s southern entrance will also proceed in 2026, and in tandem, the audits and approvals processes for the new station and rail infrastructure will progress through 2026.

Meanwhile, Iarnród Éireann will work on the installation of new trackside signalling, electrical and telecoms equipment through 2026 and into Q1 of 2027.

It is hoped that the completion of these works will facilitate the opening of the train station in 2027. However, work on the railway’s flood defences must also be completed before the train station can open.

This work has already commenced, with the Eastern Flood Defence Scheme completed and the Western Flood Defence Scheme scheduled for completion in Q2 2026.

The eastern trackside drainage works are also progressing on site, while tenders for the western trackside drainage contract should be submitted in the coming weeks.

The plan is for the Central Flood Defence Scheme, which will run through Plunkett Station, to also proceed this year.

However, the council has provided the works as “complex and logistically challenging” as they will progress through the station car parks, entrance and set-down areas.

The council added that the site is “very spatially confined”. The works are being planned to ensure safety while also minimising disruption to rail services and commuters.

The project team says it will continue to consult with Iarnród Éireann on the logistics for these works and the best means of reducing impacts.

Harcourt Developments continue to liaise with the Land Development Agency on the roll out of the residential development elements of approved Phase 1 of the SDZ development.

Upon the completion of this process, it is anticipated that works will commence on site within the first half of 2026.

The council has said that public infrastructure integration works will be fast-tracked to facilitate the earliest possible opening of the transport hub and sustainable transport bridge in 2027.

Meanwhile, The Ferrybank Access Infrastructure works are close to final completion.

Traffic management has been removed from Fountain Street and Abbey Road, while the installation of street furniture and landscaping is ongoing.

The completion of the greenway ramp at Abbey Road will facilitate the potential opening of the 6km section of greenway from Abbey Road to Curraghmore by Wexford & Kilkenny County Councils.

However, timing will be subject to the completion of safety audits and various other checks.

The implementation of all outstanding items will continue in consultation with Wexford and Kilkenny County Councils.