Motorists Urged to 'Plan Your Route'
Sligo Borough Council has urged motorists to ‘plan your route’ and to look for alternatives to the newly pedestrianised O’Connell St. Senior Engineer Tom Brennan advised that motorists should study the new traffic arrangements, and to identify the route that will get them to their destination as quickly as possible. ‘For example, motorists travelling from the south of the county to Sligo General Hospital or the Institute of Technology should consider using the new relief road onto Hughes Bridge. They will find this route much easier than using city centre streets.’
‘Following the recent traffic changes, we anticipate a level of congestion in the city centre in the short term as people become familiar with the new traffic flows. Sligo motorists have adapted very well to previous measures, including the introduction of a new one way system at Connaughton Road in May 2005, the opening of the Sligo Inner Relief Road in September 2005 and more recently the changes at Market Street, JFK Parade, Old Market St. and at Adelaide Street/John Street. Naturally there may be transitional difficulties as people become acquainted with the new system, but we are confident that people will co-operate with us over the coming weeks. I think people appreciate that by introducing these changes, it allows us to greatly enhance the city centre streetscape for the benefit of shoppers and tourists.’ From Tuesday 15th August: O’Connell Street and Tobergal Lane will become pedestrian only with access for deliveries proposed from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. Access to be made from Northern Post Office end only. No vehicular access outside these hours. Sligo Borough Council, Parks Department is now planning the introduction of new street furniture and box planters to improve the attractiveness of the street. Plans are also being prepared for a major environmental improvement scheme for O’Connell Street similar to Shop Street in Galway and Grafton Street, Dublin. A map of the new route is available from Sligo Borough Council, and can also be accessed from the local authorities websites at www.sligoborough.ie and www.sligococo.ie