North City Arterial Main (NCAM)

Uisce Éireann is progressing works to install a strategic trunkmain servicing the northern area of Dublin City.

Uisce Éireann is installing 5.5km of strategic trunkmain in the Clontarf area of Dublin City and neighbouring Fingal area as part of the North City Arterial Main (NCAM) project.

Once complete, the NCAM will be a critical piece of infrastructure for cross city water transfers between reservoirs in Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip.

This project will involve the construction of two separate trunkmains at the following locations:

• James Larkin Road/Howth Road/Dublin Road between Causeway Road and Bayside Boulevard South Junction, including Greendale Road, Thornville Road and Kilbarrack Road from Thornville Road junction to Kilbarrack Parade junction.
• Clontarf Promenade between Hollybrook Road and The Woodenbridge

These new trunkmains will be connected with existing mains between Fairview Park and Hollybrook Road and the Woodenbridge and Causeway Road to complete the NCAM scheme.

This project is critical to ensuring a secure and reliable drinking water supply to homes and businesses in North Dublin. It is a key project to help realise Government’s proposed target of 300,000 homes by 2030.

When complete, this project will support social and economic growth in North Dublin City.

• Enable the delivery of 12,000 new homes in the North Dublin area.
• Reduce interruption to supply to 160,000 properties.
• Improve pressure and resilience to 29,000 existing homes between Clontarf and Howth Head.
• Protect old/brittle mains in Clontarf/Donnycarney. 

Completion of the North City Arterial Main Scheme will link supplies at Leixlip and Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plants for customers in North Dublin, providing greater resilience and security of supply.

Upcoming works (October 2026)

Watermill Road:

• Pipe installation works are scheduled to commence on Watermill Road from Tuesday, 27 October 2026 and are expected to be completed within approximately three weeks.
• To facilitate the safe delivery of these works, traffic management measures will be in operation during this time. 
• Works will commence at the junction of Watermill Road and James Larkin Road and will progress northwards along Watermill Road to the junction with The Village. Traffic management measures will move in line with the works.
• Traffic controls will be in place at the Watermill Road/James Larkin Road junction, with Stop/Go traffic management required along Watermill Road as the works advance.
• Permitted working hours during the first week of construction will be from 8:00am to 10:00pm, Tuesday to Friday, and will include weekend work on Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November.
• We aim to complete the majority of this section of work during the mid-term school holidays.
• For the remainder of the works, working hours will be from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
• In addition to the installation of the water main, we will also be upgrading the sewer in this area to future proof the wastewater network. These works will be carried in tandem with NCAM works to minimise disruption to the community.

James Larkin Road:

• Over 1.2km of new water main has been installed along the James Larkin Road and pipe laying works in this area are now complete.
• Footpath resurfacing works commenced in September 2026 and expected to continue until late November.
• A Stop/Go traffic management system is necessary to establish a safe, protected working zone for site personnel and to facilitate safe movement of pedestrians and motorists. While these temporary traffic controls may result in some inconvenience, safeguarding both our workforce and the public remains our highest priority. 
• To minimise the impact on traffic and commuters, working hours will be 10:00am to 4:00pm.
• Outside of working hours, traffic will resume to two-way operation.

James Larkin Road/Howth Road/Greendale Road: 

• Pipe installation works are progressing at the James Larkin Road/Howth Road/Greendale Road junction. 
• Works will continue north on Howth Road/Dublin Road to Bayside Boulevard for approximately 6 months. 
• Standard working hours are 8.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday with weekend works as required. 
• A stop/go traffic management system will be in place during this time.

Thornville Road/Greendale Road:

• Pipelaying works are complete on Thornville Road and on Greendale Road as far as the junction with Foxfield Park and St. Margaret’s Avenue.
• Following completion of works on Watermill Road, a section of works is scheduled to commence at Greendale Road, from St. Margaret's Avenue/Foxfield Park roundabout to the Howth Road. 
• Works will take place under 24hr traffic control and normal working hours.  
• Further updates will be provided as works progress.

Kilbarrack Road from Thornville Road/Kilbarrack Road Junction to Kilbarrack Parade Junction: 

• Weekend works will be required over the coming weeks. Further information will be provided in due course.

Access for residents, property holders and emergency services will be facilitated throughout the works.  

Please note that programme dates and work schedules may change from time to time due to operational requirements, ground conditions, weather or other unforeseen circumstances. While this may occasionally result in amendments to previously communicated timelines, we will do our utmost to keep the local community informed of any changes wherever possible.

Uisce Éireann is actively engaging with key stakeholders and the local community and will continue to do so throughout the project. GMC Utilities Group has a dedicated Community Liaison Officer (CLO) who can be contacted on 085 8541594.

We would like to thank the local community, for their patience and ongoing support while we continue to deliver water services for Ireland for the benefit of current and future generations.

Works on the Clontarf Promenade between Hollybrook Road and The Woodenbridge are expected to commence in 2027.

Details of any planned supply interruptions associated with this project will be updated on the Water Supply Updates section of our website and stakeholders affected will get advance notice.