Project Objectives

Overview

The proposed scheme aims to create a new crossing of the Garvoge River on the eastern side of Sligo town which will link existing communities in the south-eastern area of the town to the north-eastern area, which currently generates demand to and from critical services such as schools (e.g. Carbury School, Sligo Grammar School), Sligo University Hospital, the Atlantic Technological University Sligo (ATU) and other employment centres. The scheme also aims to significantly enhance sustainable and active modes of transport by providing new pedestrian and cyclist facilities, which will link into existing and improved pedestrian and cyclist routes along the bank of the Garvoge River, and by doing so improve access to nearby amenity areas such as Doorly Park, Lough Gill, Hazelwood, etc.

The key objectives for the scheme include:

Economy

To enable the town’s future development including enhancements to the pedestrian environment and public realm of Sligo. And to deliver savings to the local population in terms of journey times, fuel costs, carbon emissions, and collision costs.

Safety

To provide an improved and safer environment for vulnerable roads users such as pedestrians, cyclists, those who are mobility or visually impaired, and to reduce the risk of collisions within the study area. In addition, the scheme aims to facilitate faster response times by emergency services within and around Sligo Town and environs.

Physical Activity

To deliver health benefits arising from the wider use of active modes of travel such as walking and cycling.

Recreational Amenity

To provide new additional recreational amenities that will help increase access to the western shore of Lough Gill with associated walking routes linking Doorly Park to the town centre.

Transport Link

To provide a new north-south link for the eastern side of Sligo town, which will avoid the need for following circuitous routes around Sligo and thereby help to reduce traffic congestion in the vicinity of the bridge and in the town centre itself. To provide for improved connectivity, including for walking, cycling and public transport which will help to encourage a shift away from private cars to more sustainable travel modes.

Accessibility and Social Inclusion

To reduce social exclusion by enhancing accessibility and linkages to services including education, social services, health care and employment centres for people living both north and south of the river and within the general surrounding communities adjacent to Sligo town.

Support Regeneration

To complement the regeneration of the wider Cranmore Area on the southeast side of the town centre, which is a key objective of the Sligo & Environs Development Plan 2010 -2016. To also enable the town’s future development including enhancements to the pedestrian environment and public realm of Sligo.

Environment

To provide a scheme which improves air quality, minimises noise impacts for residents, and which minimises the impacts on environmentally sensitive aspects and areas within the study area.

Integration

To improve geographical integration through improved accessibility and quality of service integration with existing amenities between rural areas and local services. And to improve transport integration through enhanced services to reduce journey times and improved walking, cycling and public transport facilities.