Road Transportation and Safety
WESTERN DISTRIBUTOR ROAD VITAL TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SLIGO
The proposed Western Distributor Road is considered a critical development in facilitating the continuing growth of Sligo as a ‘Gateway City.’ This will ensure Sligo will be well placed to attract new investment and employment by providing improved access to the IDA Business and Technology Park in Finisklin, Strandhill Airport and to the proposed IDA Business Park at Oakfield.
The 2.5km two lane road has been included in various Sligo City Development Plans since the 1970’s, and it is expected to cost in the region of €40m. The road is required to provide access to residential, business and mixed-use zoned lands in the western areas of Sligo City and environs. It will also service existing residential areas and will relieve traffic congestion in western parts of the city.
During 2005 and 2006 public consultations allowed the general public to examine and comment on the project.
The delivery of the new road will facilitate the growth of Sligo in a planned and sustainable manner. The planning process for this project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2007 with construction to commence in the second half of 2007.
In a presentation to a meeting of Sligo County Council, Mr Pat Loftus, Area Director IDA, Border Region, emphasised the importance of providing a proper transport infrastructure to attract new business, “In line with the National Spatial Strategy, the IDA’s strategy for the Northwest is to continue to promote a region that acts cohesively and the results are speaking for themselves – the evidence being the number of high quality overseas companies that have chosen Sligo and the Northwest as their location of choice”.
Mr Loftus went on to caution that “we are operating in a very competitive environment. The investment that Ireland is competing for requires a critical mass of skills, services and infrastructure. In order to attract the changing type of investment, it is essential that we successfully implement the investment under the National Development Plan and the National Spatial Strategy”.
- N4 Inner Relief
ICBAN DELIVERS FOR SLIGO
Over the period 2003-2005 approximately €1m has been delivered by the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) to fund various infrastructural improvements in County Sligo.
According to Senior Engineer Tommy Carroll ‘This has enabled Sligo County Council to undertake much needed improvements to harbours on the West Sligo coastline including Enniscrone, Easkey and Pollnadivva. Amenity improvements have also been undertaken to resorts of Mullaghmore and Enniscrone which included upgrading of streets, footpaths and public lighting making villages more pedestrian friendly while also enhancing the attractiveness of resorts as tourist destinations’.
Improvements were also undertaken to Raghly Harbour in North Sligo including a feasibility Study which resulted in a major grant being secured from the Department of Marine and Natural Resources in 2006 allowing a major upgrade of the harbour to commence. Improvements were also undertaken to Regional Routes in the East of County Sligo.
Small realignment and resurfacing contracts were undertaken to Regional Route R290 at Ballygawley, R284 at Doonally, R287 at Correagh and R286 at Corwillick. Also enhancement works were undertaken to lay-bys on the N16 at Glencar and R286 at Corwillick.
The undertaking of these works has improved access to areas of County Sligo which have suffered greatly from population loss over the period of troubles in the North of Ireland. This was as a result of reduced access due to the closure of the Northern Railway Network and the closure of cross-border roads which served this area.
The works also enable tourism to be promoted in the region with the resorts and harbours receiving significant investment in physical infrastructure attracting greater number of tourists to the areas.
ROAD DESIGN
In the past three years there have been major increases in funding from both the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government for design and construction of national and non-national roads in the county. The Road Design Unit, with a staff of nine engineers, five technicians and three admin/clerical staff now carry out all design work for major and minor road schemes and bridges in the county, and provide support for the design of schemes within the Borough.
NATIONAL ROAD DESIGN
Route selection has been carried out and a preferred route has been identified for all National Primary routes in the county, including the N4 (Dublin Road), the N15 (Donegal Road), the N16 (Manorhamilton Road) and the N17 (Galway Road).
Work on the N17 Tubbercurry Bypass in relation to Preliminary Design, Environmental Impact Statement and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is near completion and will be ready to publish in early 2007, subject to approval and funding from the NRA. In 2007 work will be continuing on the preliminary design and environmental studies on two other sections of the N17, namely Collooney to Achonry and Rathscanlon to
Curry.
In 2007, preliminary design and environmental studies will be completed for the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin and this scheme will be ready to proceed to CPO stage also, subject to approval and funding from the NRA.
A route for the N15 Sligo to County Boundary was approved in 2006 and in 2007 work will be progressing on the design of a dual carriageway for the Shannon Eighter to Hughes Bridge section.
In 2006, funding was provided by the NRA for the preparation of a Feasibility Study for a Sligo Western Bypass and this study will be completed in 2007.
- Launch of the County Sligo Road Safety Plan
NATIONAL ROADS PROJECTS
The following Pavement and Improvement works were undertaken with grants allocated by the National Roads Authority.
- N4 – 1.27 km of pavement strengthening/surface dressing at Doorly (€227,020 expended)
- N15 – 1.37 km of quality pavement overlay at Shannon Eighter/Lisnalurg (€632,400 expended)
- N16 – 5.5 km of pavement strengthening/surface dressing from Drum – Kilsellagh to the Leitrim Border (€514,900 expended)
- N17 – 1.71 km of pavement strengthening/overlay at Templehouse/Carrowreilly (€631,800 expended)
- N59 –2.29 km of pavement overlay at Dromard (€444,000 expended)
- N59 – Hard Shoulder improvements were carried out between Carrownree and Masreagh (€200,000 expended).
National Primary Accident Remedial Schemes
The NRA allocated a grant of €198,000 in order to carry out various accident remedial schemes throughout the County/Sligo Borough. The schemes were carried out at the following locations:-
- N4/Markievicz Road Junction (€25,000 allocated)
- N4 Rosses Point Road Junction (€25,000 allocated)
- N4 at Cloonlurg (€40,000 allocated)
- N15 Scotsmans Walk/Abbott’s Roundabout (€20,000 allocated)
- N15 at Rathaberna (€25,000 allocated)
- N15 at Derry (€18,000 allocated)
- N15 at Creevykeel (€20,000 allocated)
- N15 at Carrowilkin (€25,000 allocated)
- N59 Dromore West – Mayo Border-junction improvements carried out at various locations (€100,000 allocated)
- N59 Lisduff (€20,000 allocated)
National Primary Roads Traffic Calming Schemes
- A traffic calming scheme was carried out on the N16 junction with R286 out to the Borough Boundary (€517,300 expended)
- A traffic calming scheme was carried out on the N17 at Tubbercurry (€155,100 expended)
Winter Maintenance
The National Roads Authority allocated a grant of €177,000 for National Primary Road Winter Maintenance and €45,000 for N59 Winter Maintenance. Sligo County Council have five modern salt spreaders and snow ploughs for winter maintenance of roads.
National Roads Surface Dressing
The National Roads Authority funded the cost of surface dressing all sections of roads with a bitumen macadam surface which had not been surface dressed previously. 17.71 km of National Primary road was surfaced dressed and 7.35 km of N59 was surface dressed.The expenditure on NP surface dressing was €444,800 and the expenditure on N 59 surface dressing was €119,000.
National Roads Ordinary Maintenance
The National Roads Authority allocated a grant of €528,517 for National Primary Road Maintenance and €155,287 for N59 Ordinary maintenance.
This grant is used for pavement maintenance, verge maintenance, road drainage, road marking maintenance, signage maintenance etc.
NON-NATIONAL ROADS
Accident Remedial Schemes
A grant of €95,000 was allocated by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2006 to carry out safety improvement works at the following locations:
- Derroon Junction (R293 & L1501-45) - €20,000 allocated
- Hazelwood Junction (R286 & L74302-0) - €35,000 allocated
- Kinard Junction (R297 & R298) - €20,000 allocated
- Drinaghan Crossroads (L3502-0 and L3506) - €20,000 allocated
Non-National Roads Specific Improvement Schemes
R292 Strandhill Road (Tully – St. Annes Church) – The road construction is completed.
€119,939 was expended in 2006. This related to accommodation works/land acquisition agreements principally.
R292 Strandhill Road (Knappaghmore – Ballydoogan)
€766,527 was expended in 2006. This related principally to accommodation works required due to the purchase of parts of house front gardens, provision of services/ducting, footpaths and road construction.
R284 Drumaskibbole / Union / Ballydawley
€1,089,897 was expended in 2006. Topsoil was removed and stone placed for new road construction for a distance of 600m. Hard Rock was excavated for a distance of a further 120m and archaeology surveys/investigation were carried out. Land was also acquired for new road realignment.
R294 Mullaghroe
€894,648 was expended in 2006. Topsoil was stripped and poor material was excavated and removed. Stone was placed for new road construction and land was acquired. Archaeological surveys/investigations were also carried out.
R297 Muckduff, Enniscrone
€517,138 was expended in 2006. Stone was placed along 500m of the road and a bitumen macadam surface was laid on 350m of the road. A stormwater drainage system was provided and services ducting was laid.
R286 Ballinode – Hazelwood
€879,959 was expended in 2006. This is an urban section of road and most of the improvements were carried out within the Borough area. Land was also acquired for future road realignment.
Non-National Roads Maintenance and Pavement Improvement
Restoration Improvement Grant
A grant of €6,168,000 was allocated by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2006 which funded restoration improvement works on Non-National (Regional and Local) Roads. 16.43 km of Regional Roads and 87.18km of Local Roads were improved under this programme.
Restoration Maintenance Grant
Grant funding of €2,106,000 was received in 2006 for surface dressing Non-National (Regional and Local) Roads. 8.4 km of Regional Roads and 79.45 km of Local Roads were surface dressed during 2006. Many local roads were also shaped and strengthened with graded crushed stone prior to surface dressing.
Discretionary Improvement Grant
A grant of €680,496 was allocated to carry out minor improvements on Non-National roads. Works undertaken included:
- Footpath replacement / improvement at Ballymote, Gurteen, Tubbercurry, Strandhill, Cuilbeg, Ballinafad, Ballygawley, Collooney, Dromore West, Ballintogher and Enniscrone.
- Public lighting improvements
- Improvement of sightlines at bends and junctions
- Bridge repairs
- Drainage works
- Road safety schemes/minor improvements
Note: Footpath improvements funded out of the Discretionary Improvement Grant were augmented with matching funding from the Council’s Development Levies Fund.
Discretionary Maintenance Grant
An allocation of €805,645 was provided for the general maintenance of Regional Roads in the County. This grant is used for pavement maintenance, road drainage, verge maintenance, road markings etc.
Class II and III Local Roads
The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government allocated a grant €480,000 towards the improvement of Class II and Class III Local Roads in 2006.
Additional funding of €383,362 was provided by the Department in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs towards the upgrading of Class II and III Local Roads in CLÁR areas.
Local Roads Maintenance
Funding for the maintenance of local roads comes from Sligo County Council’s own resources. €851,000 was allocated in 2006.
Flashing Amber Safety Lights at Schools
A grant of €161,595 was received from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs towards the installation of flashing amber lights at 33 national schools located in CLÁR areas.
Local Improvement Schemes
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government allocated a grant of €747,091 for the improvement of non-public roads, which benefit two or more landowners engaged in separate agricultural activities. Beneficiaries of the scheme must contribute towards the cost of the works – 10% for a scheme estimated to cost less than €25,393 and 15% in excess of this figure. A total of 29 schemes were carried out during 2006.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs provided a supplementary grant of €364,178 for Local Improvement Schemes in CLÁR areas which funded a further 15 schemes.
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County Hall, Riverside,
Sligo,
Co. Sligo.
GPS : Irish Grid 169896, 335864
Tel:071 9111111
Fax:071 9141119 Email:info@sligococo.ie
