Bray Town Council is the Contracting Authority for the Bray flood relief scheme the Office of Public Works (OPW) is the funding Authority. As the Deputy is aware, the contract between the Town Council and the construction contractor for the project was terminated by mutual agreement on 26th November 2013 and the contractor demobilized from the site shortly thereafter. The Council carried out some maintenance and remedial works to secure the site and to make it safe over the Christmas period.
The preparation of necessary documents required for the appointment of new contractors has commenced and detailed design for priority areas is currently being prepared by the Council's consultants. The Council is aiming to be in a position to avail of the 2014 environmental window i.e. May to September to the fullest extent possible for the carrying out of in-river works. The Council is also examining the possibility of carrying out certain advance works prior to the placing of a main contract to complete the remaining works.
The Council's consultants estimate that the works that have been constructed to date, which of themselves have a significant beneficial affect in alleviating flood risk, represent approximately 35% of the entire scheme works. The works carried out, which vary from location to location within the overall site, include strengthening / remedial works to existing structures, strengthening and stabilisation of riverbanks, removal of noxious weeds, excavation, demolition and other works associated with regrading the river bed and widening the channel, construction of flood defence structures and debris traps, demolition and rebuilding of existing walls, cladding / finishing to flood defence structures, diversion of existing services, construction of a 7.4m x 4m culvert at Bray bridge, structural stability works at Bray bridge, blocking of an arch at Ravenswell road and construction of an embankment behind the flood defence structure in the golf club lands.
Works of a similar nature to those listed above remain to be carried out at other locations along the river, along with the demolition of the existing riverwall and excavation of a section of the People's Park, removal of the weir downstream of Bray bridge, construction of an emergency flood relief channel in the golf club lands, works at the railway bridge and general landscaping. Based on the original contract amount, the total estimated cost of the project, comprising costs of construction, fees, site supervision, compulsory acquisition and maintenance, is approximately €28m. Bray Town Council and the OPW remain fully committed to completing the Bray flood relief scheme to provide the standard 1-in-100 year level of protection and every effort is being made to achieve this objective as soon as possible. The cost of completing the project is provided for in the OPW's projections of capital expenditure to 2016.
