Eastern Garvoge Bridge

Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads Scheme

The Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Road Scheme is of strategic importance to the development of Sligo and in linking communities and facilitating development within Sligo City especially the east ward of the city.  The scheme has been developed as a traffic calmed urban distributor road consisting of a 2-way single carriageway, a dedicated 2-way cycle way with footpaths on either side.  Planning approval has been received, compulsory purchase order confirmed, and majority of advance works carried out.  It is the councils desire to complete the detailed design of the scheme by Q4 2024, to progress to Tender Stage during Q1/2 2025 with a view to commencing construction at the start of 2026.  The Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads Project is listed for construction in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027.

The main benefits for Sligo Residents and the wider community will include much reduced journey times for walkers, cyclists and vehicles between the North and South sides of the River Garvogue in the eastern quadrant.  It will significantly reduce travel distance and improve access to the many facilities on opposite sides of the river.  These includes the three schools and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo on the Northeast side and three schools on the Southeast side.  It will also provide faster access to Sligo General Hospital from the Southeast quarter and better access to Government Buildings, County Hall, the Fire Station, Cleveragh Business and Retail Area, Doorly Park Playground and Trail, Sligo Regional Sports Centre and the newly developed Cleveragh Park facilities.  The route will also greatly reduce response times for emergency services e.g., ambulance, gardaí and fire services.

The new Eastern Garvogue Bridge scheme includes:

  • Urban Distributor single carriageway (each way) road and bridge – From Ash Lane /Molloway Hill to Cranmore Road, about 2km long (1.2miles).
  • Cycle ways.
  • Footpaths on both sides of the road.
  • Low speed limit urban section of road.
  • Special road surface to reduce noise levels.
  • Pedestrian crossings and bus stops.
  • Revised Signalised Junction at Ash Lane/ R286.
  • Riverside fully lit Walkway – continuing from Blue Lagoon area, beneath new bridge to Doorly Park.
  • Landmark Bridge for Sligo across Garvoge River.

 

Collaboration

An extensive programme of consultation has been undertaken in the development of this project.  The following groups have been involved in the process and will continue to work in partnership with Sligo County Council to deliver the project:

  • Department of Transport
  • Landowners
  • Resident Associations Doorly Park/Martin Savage Terrace
  • Cranmore Regeneration/Cranmore Co-operative Committee
  • Sligo County Council Parks and Housing Departments
  • Recreational Users of Garvogue River/Lough Gill
  • Statutory Bodies
  • Bus Éireann
  • Existing commercial and business interests north and south of the river.

 

Work to Date

  • Public consultations, comprehensive mail-drops.
  • Public hearings for supporters and objectors to the scheme.
  • Planning permission granted for scheme by An Bord Pleanála.
  • Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) confirmed by An Bord Pleanála.
  • Notices to Treat issued to affected land and property owners.
  • Valuer appointed by Sligo County Council.
  • Public consultation held.
  • Submissions analysed and design amendments carried out
  • Amended details and model prepared and put on public display.
  • Further site testing and archaeological investigations completed
  • Detailed design been progressed and now nearing completion
  • Negotiations with permanent CPO affected landowners underway.

For property owners served with Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) including Temporary CPOs, the Design Team are available to discuss concerns as appropriate.

 

November 2024 Update

The project is currently at the Detailed Design Phase, main updates are as follows:

  • The Project team is close to completing the detailed design of the horizontal/vertical alignments and junctions to comply with current design standards and to facilitate active travel modes of transport throughout the scheme.
  • The landscape design plan is being developed by a specialist Landscape Design team. This incorporates the green areas between Doorly Park and Martin Savage Terrace and the public realm enhancements on the south bank of the river. Visualisations of the proposals will be shared on the webpage in the coming weeks.
  • Public lighting specialists are also working on the project to create and provide appropriate and adequate lighting in accordance with current standards and industry best practice.
  • The revised layout of the N16 Ash Lane / Molloway Hill junction (close to Regional Stores) is being developed in consultation with TII and Sligo County Council’s Pathfinder project team to ensure that active travel modes and vulnerable road users are better catered for, and that links between the town centre and ATU Sligo are improved.
  • The detailed design of the Eastern Garvoge bridge itself is near completion. Specialist wind tunnel testing of the bridge is currently being undertaken as one of the final stages of the detailed design.
  • The Sustainability Plan for the project is nearing completion. This plan will have a particular focus on transport/mobility and biodiversity.  It aims to minimise the carbon footprint of the project and maximise the active travel potential and integration with walking, cycling and health initiatives in the area.  Other areas of focus include Nature Based Engineering Solutions, Circular Economy, Social Value, Energy and Sustainable Drainage Solutions.
  • Environmental Commitments associated with the project are being honoured and are being incorporated into the design. Consultations with relevant Statutory Bodies including National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Office of Public Works (OPW) and National Monuments Service (NMS) are ongoing to ensure these commitments are fully delivered.
  • Sligo County Council and the NTA have discussed and agreed on Bus Stop requirements and new locations for the completed scheme.
  • Most of the Advanced (preparatory) Works are now complete. Over the coming weeks there may be some service checks required in the Doorly Park Area. Traffic Management Plans will be in place where required.  Very little disruption if any is anticipated.

 

Project Public Information

It is anticipated that information for the project will be made available to the public (online) from the week ending the 6th of December 2024.  Full details about this will be published in due course.

 

If you require further information on the scheme, please contact Sligo County Council:

Email address: egb@sligococo.ie (Please email this address also if you wish to be added to Scheme Updates mailing list)

 

Project Team:

Joseph Forde (Project Manager) on 071 911 1966

Eamonn Brennan (Project Team Member) on 071 911 1958

(both at Sligo County Council, Road Design and Infrastructure, Riverside, Sligo)