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Sorensen are delighted to announce they that have signed the contract with Cork City Council for the construction of Marina Park Phase 1 and have commenced work on site.

The works will comprise of the construction of a new city centre Parklands, comprising of hard and soft landscaped items along with associated site clearance, adjustment of existing site levels to form new water storage basins, surface water runoff drainage, diversion of an existing watercourse complete with associated weirs, new pathways both trafficked and non-trafficked comprising of sand blasted concrete, resin bonded paving, natural stone paving and brushed concrete and a timber gantry walkway.  It will also include provision and installation of park furniture, site lighting, surface water pumping station and rising main, water feature and all associated mechanical and electrical services.

In addition, the Marina Park will include an open framed steel structure, partially roofed and wall cladded that will house individual pod like structures including toilet facilities and a coffee shop. The project will also comprise of 2 number bridge structures spanning over the diverted watercourse, one of which is to be trafficked.   A new 250 space car park with associated road and shared cycling / pedestrian path is to be provided along the existing marina, adjoining the Shandon Boat Club.  The works are to include all associated site works, including but not limited to the provision and installation of surface water drainage, public lighting and electrical charge points.

This road improvement scheme entailed the realignment of the existing Maryborough Hill Road and the construction of a new 4-leg roundabout to provide safe access to the new Maryborough Ridge Housing Development The upgrade works also included the provision of right turn lanes serving both the Maryborough Ridge Estate and the Broadale Residential Estate, footpaths, off-road bus stops and an on-road cycle lane. A significant element of the works was the construction of a new natural-stone faced retaining wall with railing adjacent to the new section of road and roundabout. This wall formed the new road boundary to the west. The works also included both hard and soft landscaping as adjacent to the road. Five uncontrolled pedestrian crossings at various locations along the scheme were constructed. All associated road markings, service diversion works, traffic management works, community liaison, bollard retention socket installation, new gullies, tactile paving and footpath build-outs were constructed as part of the scheme.

The N70 Kilderry Bends Improvement Scheme comprised of the design and construction of a realigned section of roadway approximately 6.0 km in length between Miltown and Killorglin in Co. Kerry on behalf of our client Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Kerry County Council. The new route was located on a greenfield site, to the south east of the existing N70 route and the road works were constructed predominantly off-line. The chosen road type was a Type 2 Single Carriageway with a climbing lane facility for northbound traffic. The N70 Kilderry Bends Improvement Scheme provided improved geometric alignment, a positive drainage system and standardised access along this section of the N70 National Secondary Route. The scheme also included a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the new road and a new 4 -leg roundabout at the Knockavota Junction. Following the completion of the new road, improvements were carried out to the old N70 route including resurfacing, road markings and signage amendments. The project was delivered four months ahead of programme, safely, within budget and to the highest standards in quality. Thanks to Sorensen crew for this great effort.

On the 25th of March 2019, Olaf Sorensen attended an interview of the last four finalists on behalf of Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd for the 2019 ICE Best Civil Engineering Project in Ireland. This award was for the construction of the Youghal Main Drainage Scheme.

Sorensen along with three other contractors, L & M Keating, Lagan Asphalt and Glan Aqua were selected as the last four after being recommended earlier by two separate judging panels.

The interview involved a question and answer session concentrating mainly on the following;

• The design of the road in a sandy flood plain and the part played by geo-grids and surcharging.
• The design and solutions to the piling for the main structure.
• The pipework in the streets.

We look forward to the ICE Awards Gala Event on March 29th, where the winner will be announced.

The Kilderry Bends are on a national secondary road, on the busy main artery between Tralee and Killorglin in mid Co. Kerry.

The N70 route between Milltown and Killorglin is among the 50 worst roads in the country. Works have begun and are to be completed in mid-2019.

Kerry County Council confirmed that Cork-based Sorenson Civil Engineering Ltd had been appointed the main contractor.

Please read the article that was posted in the Engineers Journal on the 21st August 2107 – relating to Groundforce’s supply of Super Mega Brace for the Marine Works project in Youghal. Click here to read article

A new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) at Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork was officially opened by Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister for State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton on Monday 3rd October 2016. The contract for the construction of the treatment plant, which involved a circa €12 million investment by Irish Water, was awarded to a Sorensen – EPS Joint Venture partnership in June 2014.

The plant is significant for a number of reasons not least the fact that it is the second plant in both Ireland and the UK to utilise the innovative Nereda biological treatment system. It can now treat waste for a population equivalent (PE) of 30,000 but has been designed to be able to double this capacity in stages.  The project also involved upgrade works to three outlaying pump stations and a 710mm HDPE 1.5 km marine outfall carried out by Sorensen.

Carrigtwohill WwTP was successfully handed over by Sorensen / EPS Joint Venture to EPS Operations on the 18th May 2016. The contract was completed ahead of time and on budget.

The Nereda process has made this plant a key learning center for Irish and international clients.  It is expected that as well as improved water quality and removal of existing health risks for the community, this new plant will unlock the capacity for further development in one of Cork’s fastest growing satellite towns.

Commenting on the project, Minister David Stanton said: “The increase in wastewater treatment capacity will allow for continued, future growth in population and economic activity, as well as in towns such as Castlemartyr, Cloyne, and Killeagh.”

Joshua Sorensen, Contracts Manager for Sorensen said: ‘Sorensen and EPS are delighted to be involved in such an innovative and locally beneficial project and are looking forward to supporting the community through the operate contract duration.’

The Waterford Grouped Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme and Wastewater Treatment Plants will be officially opened by Senator Paudie Coffey today, Thursday 6th October 2016.

The project, which was delivered by Sorensen Civil Engineering and the EPS Group and involved a €24 million investment by Irish Water, has provided seven wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages across Co. Waterford including Ardmore, Ballyduff/Kilmeadan, Cappoquin, Dunmore East, Kilmacthomas, Stradbally and Tallow.  An EPS/ Sorensen Joint Venture partnership was awarded the contract for the construction of the new treatment plants in July 2014. The project included the design, specification, procurement, supply, construction, commissioning, testing, operation and maintenance of seven complete, fully functioning, wastewater treatment plants and outfall pipes in the seven towns/villages.

The project will ensure the protection and improvement of water quality at the receiving locations which include seaside towns with busy tourist trades and popular fishing areas. The new wastewater treatment plants will serve a future population equivalent of 22,700, which will facilitate ongoing population growth and economic development in the respective towns and regions.

Commenting on the project, John Wallace, Contracts Director at Sorensen Civil Engineering said: “Sorensen and EPS are delighted to be involved in this locally beneficial project and are looking forward to supporting the community through the operate contract duration.’

As this is the season of goodwill, the Management and Staff of Sorensen Civil Engineering Limited have made the following donations to Enable Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation.

Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd  with their  JV partners EPS have recently signed a contract with Irish Water for the construction of a new Waste Water Treatment  Plant at Youghal, Co Cork.

The contract involves the design and construction of a 16,000 population equivalent wastewater treatment plant for Youghal, located at the Front Strand beach area. Construction of the new wastewater treatment plant will commence shortly and has an ambitious construction programme of 24 months.

EPS/Sorensen are fully focused on delivering this project successfully on behalf of Irish Water and the community in Youghal.  The investment in a new wastewater treatment plant is part of an overall investment in wastewater infrastructure of approximately €22.8m.  This is a significant investment and commitment by Irish Water and EPS/Sorensen are looking forward to working with all stakeholders, including the community in Youghal, in the delivery of the project.

Sorensen are currently carrying out seven such plants in Waterford and one in Carrigtohill, Co Cork for Irish Water.

[Published : http://www.wit.ie/news/engineering/wit-site-visit-to-wwtp-at-dunmore-east]

As part of their ongoing learning, students on the Quantity Surveying and Civil Engineering programmes at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) made a site visit to the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) project being carried out by Sorensen Civil Engineering Ltd in Dunmore East.

Classroom studies combined with appropriate dedicated site visits are a regular occurrence for students of varying disciplines in the Department of the Built Environment. Robert Smyth, course leader for BSc (Hons) Quantity in Surveying said, “These visits and activities are hugely important for our students as they can truly translate what they learn in the lecture halls to real life situations and engineering solutions.”

Bright sunshine, cool sea air and a complex civil engineering construction greeted students when they visited the WWTP project along with their tutors John Carney, Robert Smyth and Tomas O’Donoghue. Project Manager Luke Treacy gave the students great guidance and instruction on the works carried out to date.

The Waste Water Treatment Plant is in simple terms a very large compartmented box structure (approx. 70 x 20 x 5m high) with reinforced concrete floor and walls sunken below ground level. Once the plant is fitted and commissioned, the waste water from the Dunmore East area will be treated prior to being discharged out to sea via a 350m long pipeline. The 355mm diameter pipe is laid partly underground and then inserted into a bored hole some 300m long under the red rock cliff face.

The borehole allows the exit point of the outfall pipe to discharge 100m from the seashore. This operation is carried out using what is known as directional drilling and this operation had just commenced on site. The drilling operation is expected to take approx. six weeks to complete. The previous week the concrete floor of the tank had been placed (some 500m3 in a one day pour!!) and the reinforced concrete walls are in progress.

The WIT Department of the Built Environment students hope to return to the site in a few months time to review progress and get further experience on the practical aspects of the civil engineering construction detailing.

Deputy David Stanton, who was instrumental in securing approval for the development of the Carrigtwohill Waste Water Treatment Plant, on site to view progress with James O’Donovan and Olaf Sorensen.