Road Transportation and Safety

National Primary, Secondary, Regional and Local Road – Maintenance and Improvement and Support to Roads Capital Programme

A total of over €15.75 million was expended on the maintenance and upgrade of public road network in County Sligo in 2009. Work has also progressed on the planning, design and construction of key strategic national and non national road projects serving County Sligo and Sligo City - the gateway city of the north-west. The National Roads Authority and the Department of Transport non-national roads division in addition to Sligo County Council were the key funding agencies for this programme.

A total of €507,000 was also expended on the upgrade of non-public roads under the Local Improvement Scheme of works in 2009.

The Road network in County Sligo is summarized as follows:

ROUTE	LENGTH KM	% OF TOTAL
National Primary	102.7	3.9
National Secondary	47.4	1.8
Regional	222.6	8.4
Local	2,271.1	85.9
Total	2,643.8km	100%

The tables below show the details of the National and Regional Roads in Sligo.

National Roads in Sligo

ROUTE	DESCRIPTION	LENGTH KM
N4	Sligo City to Roscommon County Boundary	33.3km
N15	Sligo City to Bunduff Br.	26.4km
N16	Sligo City to Leitrim County Boundary	8.4km
N17	Collooney to Bellahy	34.6km
	Total	102.7km

National Roads in Sligo

ROUTE	DESCRIPTION	LENGTH KM
N59	Ballysadare to Mayo County Boundary	47.4km

Regional Roads in Sligo

ROUTE	DESCRIPTION	LENGTH KM
R277	Killaspugbrone to Sligo Airport	1.7km
R278	Sligo to Cornalaghta	6.7km
R279	Cliffoney to Mullaghmore	4.4km
R284	Carrowroe to Roscommon County Boundary	26.6km
R286	Sligo City to Leitrim County Boundary	8.1km
R287	Carrowroe to Leitrim County Boundary	11.9km
R290	Rathrippon to Ballintogher	11.0km
R291	Sligo City to Rosses Point	6.5 km
R292	Sligo City to Strandhill to Ballydrehid	16.3km
R293	Ballinaboll to Gurteen to Roscommon County Boundary	25.8km
R294	Cloonloo to Tubbercurry to Lough Talt	42.5km
R295	Ballymote to Keash to Roscommon County Boundary	14.6km
R296	Ballymote to Bunnannaddan to R294	10.2km
R297	Dromore West to Enniscrone to County Boundary	29.8km
R298	N59 to Lacknatlieva to R297	4.9km
R361	Roscommon County Boundary to Killaraght to Roscommon County	1.6km
	Total	222.6km

Local Roads are categorized into Local Primary, Secondary or Tertiary and are summarised as follows:

CLASS	LENGTH KM	% OF TOTAL
Primary	581.6	25.6
Secondary	1,008.0	44.3
Tertiary	681.5	30.1

NATIONAL ROADS

A total of €4,447,357 was allocated in 2009 by the National Roads Authority towards the maintenance and improvement of the 150km of national road network in County Sligo.

NATIONAL ROAD MAJOR SCHEMES

A total of €2,660,000 was allocated in 2009 to the planning and design of major national road schemes as follows:

• N17 Tobercurry Bypass

Following design revisions and cost management exercises the Preliminary Design, Environmental Impact Statement, Compulsory Purchase Order and Business Case are to be finalised and submitted to NRA in 2010. Publication of CPO and EIS will be subject to approval and funding from the NRA.

• N17 Collooney – Charlestown

The above project is progressing through the planning process and Preliminary Design, EIS, CPO and Business Case are due to be finalised and submitted to NRA in 2011. Publication of CPO and EIS will be subject to approval and funding from the NRA.

• N4 Realignment Collooney – Castlebaldwin

The above project is progressing through the planning process and Preliminary Design, EIS, CPO and Business Case are due to be finalised and submitted to the NRA in 2011. Publication of CPO and EIS will be subject to approval and funding from the NRA.

• N4/N15 Sligo to County boundary

The above project is progressing through the planning process and Preliminary Design, EIS, CPO and Business Case are due to be finalised and submitted to NRA in 2010. Publication of CPO and EIS will be subject to approval and funding from the NRA.

• National Roads Pavement and Minor Improvement Works

A total of €500,000 was allocated to pavement and minor improvement works. Pavement condition surveys were carried out to identify sections of road in most need of repair. Localised pavement repair/improvement works were then carried out under a number of contracts in 2009 on the N15, N16, and N17 and N59.

• National Roads Maintenance

A total of €1,102,357 was allocated towards national roads maintenance in 2009. Works carried out included general maintenance, winter maintenance, bridge maintenance, route lighting, road resurfacing.

NON-NATIONAL ROADS

A total of €10,198,9 69 was allocated by the Department of Transport non-national roads division towards the maintenance and improvement of non-national road network in County Sligo in 2009. A further €507,000 was allocated towards the improvement of non-public roads under the Local Improvement Scheme. It should be noted that the overall 2009 Department of Transport allocation represented a 28% drop when compared with the 2008 allocation.

STRATEGIC ROAD SCHEMES

• Eastern Garavogue Bridge and Approach Roads

The planning phase for the Eastern Garavogue Bridge and Approach Roads Scheme was completed in 2009 with the approval by An Bord Pleanala of the Environmental Impact Statement and Compulsory Purchase Order for the scheme. This represented a significant milestone in the development of this project and it is now possible to proceed to detailed design and towards construction. This project is considered essential for the regeneration of eastern parts of Sligo city and for the ongoing development of the region.

• Western Distributor Road

2009 saw the construction of Phase 1 of the Western Distributor Road. The Western Distributor Road starts from the Caltragh Interchange on the Sligo Inner Relief Route and heads in westerly direction to the Strandhill Road via Magheraboy, Oakfield and Ballydoogan. At the Oakfield Road junction the road links to the proposed new IDA Business Park at Oakfield, which will open up this land for development.

Phase 1 of the scheme involved road construction from the Ballydoogan Road junction to the Strandhill Road, between Mitchell Curley Park and Kevinsfort Estate, and through Kevinsfort Heath at its northern end. The contract was awarded to Gerald Love Contracts in January 2009 and construction commenced on site in February 2009. The construction works comprised of a 550m section of 10m wide single carriageway with verge, cycle lanes and footpaths on both sides. The contract also included associated earthworks, including rock and soft material excavation, drainage, significant utilities and ducting, retaining wall and revetment construction, significant boundary walls and accommodation works, landscaping, lighting, signage, traffic signals and ancillary works. The works also included one signalised T-junction at Ballydoogan, two priority junctions and two signalised pedestrian crossings along the route and a revised entrance to Mitchell Curley Park from the new road. Safety of the public was given extensive consideration as part of the construction works, given that the road runs between an existing play area and football pitches and a residential area. Substantial completion was achieved on the scheme in December 2009.

The Form of Contract used for phase 1 was the new Public Works Contract for Minor Building and Civil Engineering Works Designed by the Employer, which was introduced nationally for Government funded infrastructural schemes in 2007. The Sligo Western Distributor Road Phase 1 scheme was one of the first in the country to be let under this Form of Contract.

The Compulsory Purchase Order for Phase 2 of the Western Distributor Road Scheme will be published in 2010. On completion, this scheme will provide access to the IDA Business Park at Finisklin, the proposed IDA Business Park at Oakfield, zoned residential land, Strandhill Airport, western areas of Sligo and the community sports and Park facilities, from the N4 dual carriageway, the main north-south road corridor through Sligo City. The development will eliminate the need to access all of the above from the City centre, thus reducing journey times and congestion in the city centre. The development will also relieve traffic congestion on existing roads on the western side of Sligo and improve access to and from the area for existing residents.

  
- Western Distributor Road looking North 

 
- Western Distributor Road looking south from Mitchell Curley Park Entrance 

  
- Western Distributor Road at Kevinsfort Heath 

ROAD RESTORATION PROGRAMME 2008 – 2010

The current three year multi-annual road restoration improvement programme commenced in 2008 and continued in 2009. A total of €6,582,000 was expended under the road restoration programme on improving and maintaining a total of 95 sections of the non-national road network.

LOCAL ROAD MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

A sum of €4,751,570 was invested in maintenance and improvement of the local road network in 2009 under the road restoration programme allocation. In addition the 2009 “own resource allocation” of Sligo County Council towards the general maintenance of the local road network was €600,000 which due to funding constraints represented a 40% drop in the figure allocated in 2008.

REGIONAL ROAD MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

A sum of €1,829,500 was invested in maintenance and improvement of the regional road network in 2009 under the road restoration programme allocation.

A sum of €830,000 was expended on the general maintenance of the Regional Road network in 2009 under the Discretionary maintenance grant.

NON-NATIONAL ROAD SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

A total grant of €2,121,000 was allocated by Department of Transport towards the following improvement projects in 2009 under the specific improvement grant scheme.

CLASS	LOCATION	BUDGET €
R297	Muckduff	70,000
R284	Drumiskabole/Union	300,000
R286	Ballinode	300,000
R292	Knappaghmore	360,000
R294	Mullaghroe / Cuilprughlish	255,000
R297	Castletown	108,000
R292	Tully	225,000

Bridge improvements funded under Specific Improvement Grants.

CLASS	LOCATION	BUDGET €
L49014	Cloonaughil Br	90,000
L4902	Lough Easkey Br	48,000
L63071	Moorelands Br, Dromore West	56,000
L64101	Pollacheeny Br	41,000
L7131	Curraghmore Br,Cliffoney	51,000
L74601	Cullaghbeg Br, Drumcliffe	63,000
L7608	Union Br, Collooney	58,000
R284	Foyouges Br, Geevagh	96,000
	Total	2,121,000

All the above bridge projects were completed in 2009. The works carried out included strengthening, repair and replacement as necessary to bridges supporting public roads, taking cognizance of the built heritage of pertinent structures.

 
- Foyouges Bridge- pre works 2009

  
- Foyouges Bridge- pre works 2009 

   
- Foyouges Bridge- pre works 2009 

  
- Foyouges Bridge – post works 2009 

 
- Templehouse Bridge 

The R292 Knappaghmore, R297 Muckduff, R292 Tully projects are now completed. Improvements works will continue on other projects in 2009 subject to ongoing Department of Transport funding. These projects help to improve access to the region, promote economic activity and improve road safety.

DISCRETIONARY IMPROVEMENT GRANT

Sligo received a Discretionary Improvement Allocation of €351,000 in 2009. This was allocated to miscellaneous improvements to the non-national network including enhancements to footpaths in towns and villages.

Improvements included:-

• Construction and improvements to public footpaths in towns and villages.
• Improvements to public lighting network
• Improvement to road signage.
• Improvements to bridge infrastructure.
• Miscellaneous Road and Drainage and junction improvements.

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

A budget of €507,000 towards the improvement of non-public roads was allocated by Department of Transport for this programme in 2009. A total of 17 improvement projects were undertaken.

ROAD SAFETY ENGINEERING IMPROVEMENT

€265,000 was allocated in 2009 by the Department of Transport under the low cost safety improvement scheme to undertake improvements at seven number locations on the non-national road network. A total of €185,000 was also allocated by the National Roads Authority towards road safety remedial measures at four number locations on the national route network in County Sligo in 2009. Sites were chosen where the incidences of collisions were high historically. Engineering measures such as enhanced signage and lining, improved junction definition, pedestrian crossings have been introduced at these locations.

ROAD SAFETY PROMOTION/EDUCATION

Sligo’s Road Safety Officer continued to be proactive in promoting safety on the road networks in County Sligo in 2009. National and local radio and the print media are used to target audiences, particularly the young, to change behavioural habits on the roads and to promote general safety. Particular schemes for 2009 included:

1. Support of Students’ Union in promotion of road safety in Sligo IT which has a core target audience of several thousand 18 to 23 year olds.
2. Support of road safety promotion during Connaught Motor Rally’s Sligo Stage. Target audience of male drivers in age range 20 to 40 years old.
3. Arrange annual campaign re hi-visibility vests for rural pedestrians. Over 1,000 complimentary vests distributed to vulnerable rural pedestrians via Gardai, rural Bus Eireann transport services and public representatives.
4. Practical support to cycle training initiatives in national schools. 

All fatal road traffic collisions continue to be jointly inspected by Gardai and the Road Safety Officer.

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

The Department of Transport established the National Sustainable Travel Office in February 2009 to support the implementation of the newly published Smarter Travel Policy Document: ‘Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future - A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009 – 2020. The policy recognises the vital importance of continued investment in transport to ensure an efficient economy and continued social development, but it also sets out the necessary steps to ensure that people choose more sustainable transport modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. This was followed in April 2009 by the publication of Ireland’s first National Cycle Policy Framework, which outlines the necessary actions to deliver 10% mode share for cycling in Ireland by 2020.

The Government’s vision behind the policy is “to create a culture of cycling in Ireland”. A Local Authority Network was established on the 14 July, 2009 to support the delivery of the Government’s Smarter Travel Policy at national and local level. The Network is comprised of a nominated official from each Local Authority and members of the National Sustainable Travel Office of the Department of Transport. Sligo County Council is a member of this network which meets three times a year with meetings of subgroups taking place more frequently throughout the year. The Local Authority Network provides for structured liaison between central and local government to ensure that the Government’s vision contained in Smarter Travel is delivered consistently and in accordance with best international practice at local level in Ireland.

  
- Bus Bays on Cleveragh Drive

In April 2009, Sligo County Council applied for funding under European Mobility Week for the permanent re-allocation of road space to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. Sligo County Council was one of nine successful Local Authorities to receive funding under this scheme. A total of €39,000 was spent on the conversion of Vehicle Parking Bays to Bicycle Parking Bays and the conversion of existing road space to Bus Bays along Sligo City Commuter Routes. Bicycle Parking was provided at Market Cross (3No), Wine St Car Park (4No), Quay St Car Park (2No), Hyde Bridge (2No), Stephen St Car Park (2No) and St Anne’s Car Park (2No). Bus Bays were provided at Ballytivnan Road (2No), Doorly Park Road (1No) and Cleaveragh Drive (2No). All work was complete by European Mobility Week, 16th-22nd September 2009.

 
- Bicycle Parking at Market Cross 

In September 2009 Sligo County Council applied for funding under the Smarter Travel Areas Competition, a €50 million investment in sustainable travel over five years, to support the delivery of an integrated suite of measures to transform travel and mobility patterns to meet the vision of Smarter Travel by 2013. Sligo County Council applied for the provision of dedicated cycle lanes on the commuter routes to Sligo from Strandhill, Rosses Point, Ballisodare and Collooney and also for the environmental enhancement of the pedestrianised O’Connell Street. A total of 39 applications were received from Local Authorities but Sligo was not one of the 11 applications which were shortlisted for Phase 2 of the competition. The initial feedback from the Department of Transport was that Sligo had an excellent application and it may be considered for funding in the future. However the reopening of the pedestrianised O’Connell Street to vehicular traffic raised issues regarding Sligo’s commitment to sustainable travel.

HEALTH and SAFETY 2009

The Health and Safety function of Sligo Local Authorities is managed by the Infrastructural Services Directorate. The focus in 2009 was the further development, introduction and maintenance of Safety Management Systems across various Directorates of the organisation.

Considerable resources continue to be given to the ongoing training of administrative, technical and site based staff in the area of health and safety. Systematic monitoring, measuring and review of workplace health and safety performance was carried out throughout the year and the Safety Management System Programme was revised to reflect this.

Health and Safety continues to be an integral element of the Local Authorities undertakings.

  
- Sean Fallon Bridge