03/04/2008 -

Eastern Garvoge River Bridge - Connecting Communities

The Bridge in Context

The National Spatial Strategy confirms Sligo’s status as the premier economic gateway of the northwest region. The Sligo Local Authorities are working with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority to develop a transport infrastructure to underpin our continuing growth and development. The newly opened Sligo Inner Relief Road has resulted in major benefits to motorists, and will also facilitate the pedestrianisation of city centre streets. Proposals for a Western Distributor Road and a Western by-pass are identified in the Sligo and Environs Development Plan, and the delivery of these projects will further enhance our position as a dynamic and progressive urban centre.

Reduce congestion

The Garvoge River Bridge will provide an eastern relief road which will further reduce traffic congestion in the city centre. The new bridge will join the communities north and south of the Garvoge River, linking the large residential and commercial centres south of the river with Sligo Regional Hospital and Sligo’s educational hub.

The proposed Eastern Garvoge Bridge and approach roads will provide a new high-quality, single-carriageway Urban Distributor Road link on the Eastern side of Sligo City. It will provide for the ongoing commercial, residential, recreational and social development of communities in the East of the City, on both the North and South sides of the Garvoge River. The development will include:

• Northern Link Road tie-ins at two locations, one via a five-arm connection to the N16 Ash Lane Signalised Junction to include a major rearrangement of the existing junction layout, the second via a proposed four-arm signalised junction at the existing R286 Dromahair Road/Short Walk priority junction.
• Northern Link Roads from N16 Ash Lane Junction parallel to Cushlough River to its intersection with an additional northern link to the R286 Dromahair Road through Bellanode and crossing the Cushlough River south of Glencarrig Estate.
• 3-Armed Roundabout linking these northern link roads from the Ash Lane junction and Dromahair Road to the bridge link.

According to Senior Engineer Tom Brennan ‘The bridge will connect communities north and south of the river and provide access to the regional hospital and the proposed new private hospital. It will improve traffic circulation on the Eastern side of the river of the City while opening up a large area for potential development. This project will also facilitate the regeneration of the Cranmore/Cleveragh areas.’