N59 Corhawnagh to Crockacullion Road Improvement

Public Consultation – Route Selection – Emerging Preferred Route

Sligo County Council commenced the Route Selection Process for the N59 Corhawnagh to Crockacullion Road Improvement Scheme in the autumn of 2017 with the development of a Constraints Study Area. Being mindful of identified significant constraints, the Design Team established six ‘Feasible Route Options’ and these options were put on public display as part of Public Consultation No 1 in October 2018.

A multi-disciplinary ‘Preliminary Options Assessment’ was subsequently completed on those six ‘Feasible Route Options’ which included examination of over 15 specialist topics including, Road Safety, Traffic, Engineering, Costs, Socio Economic, Noise & Vibration, Air Quality, Agricultural Property, Non - Agricultural Property, Ecology, Hydrology & Hydro Geology, Soils & Geology, Landscape & Visual, Archaeology & Cultural Heritage and Architectural Heritage. Submissions made by the public during and after Public Consultation No. 01 were also taken into consideration.

The result of the above mentioned assessment was a ‘Refinement of Route Options’. This included a refinement of the six initial ‘Feasible Route Options’ as well as localised design modifications. The resulting four ‘Refined Route Options’ were then put on public display as part of Public Consultation No 2 in July 2019 with a further more detailed appraisal process and extensive assessment in accordance with DTTAS’s Common Appraisal Framework and the TII’s Project Appraisal Guidelines being subsequently carried out on the remaining refined route options.

Following the extensive assessment, an ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ (‘EPR’) (outlined broadly on the map below) has now been established for the N59 national secondary route between Corhawnagh and Crockacullion townlands. This now allows for the planning and design phase of the minor improvement scheme to commence.

It should be noted, that the design is a Work in Progress. As more detailed information becomes available and the design progresses, the design will evolve and may be refined or changed at certain locations. This may include:

• adjustments to the alignment,
• junction design &
• the provision of additional ancillary infrastructure such as drainage and access arrangements.

The National Roads Project Office will endeavour to keep the public informed of these changes.

It should also be noted that the ‘Route Corridor’ depicted to encompass the ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ is indicative only and does not represent the project extents.

This ‘Route Corridor’ will be used by the Planning Authority for the referral of planning applications to the TII and the National Roads Project Office. However, it is anticipated, insofar as is practicable, that any changes to the ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ during the design phase, will not extend outside of this ‘Route Corridor’.

The period for Public Consultation (No. 03) has now commenced and a public display of the ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ and ‘Route Corridor’ were made available to the public at Corhownagh Parish Centre, Ballysadare, Co. Sligo on the 3^rd December 2019 where detailed large scale drawings were available for inspection during the Consultation. The aforementioned information may continue to be inspected during office hours from the 9^th of December 2019 to the 31^st of January, 2020 at the offices of:

Sligo County Council, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo; and

Sligo County Council, National Roads Project Office, Business Centre, Market Yard, Sligo

Alternatively, the drawings are available for download below.

The purpose of this consultation period will be to inform the public of the ‘Emerging Preferred Route’ and ‘Route Corridor’. Submissions already made to date have been retained on file. Further submissions from the public are welcome and these may assist in making further design refinements during the design phase. The deadline for receipt of such submissions is Friday the 31^st of January 2020 at 4pm. Submissions should be returned to:

Kevin Crawley, Project Engineer, National Roads Project Office, Business Centre, Market Yard, FREEPOST, Sligo, F91 WV7R.

Alternatively email to N59RIS@sligococo.ie

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Project Engineer at 071 91 11973.