Pedestrianisation of O'Connell Street Will Enhance Sligo City Centre

Sligo Borough Council’s proposals to pedestrianise O’Connell Street this summer will enhance the city centre for people who visit, work or reside in Sligo.

The ‘Traffic & Transportation Plan’ for Sligo identified the pedestrianisation of Sligo’s core streets as a priority following the opening of the Sligo Inner Relief Road. The new road attracts sufficient traffic away from the city centre to allow the closing of O’Connell Street to vehicular traffic. Access for service vehicles will be allowed during certain hours. Proposed traffic flow alterations will encourage more use of the new Sligo Inner Relief Road rather than using city centre streets as through routes. The ultimate aim will be to create a pedestrianised core stretching from the River Garavogue to Adelaide Street including O’Connell Street.

This core will be surrounded by traffic calmed streets which will form a ‘home zone’ and will be available for access, deliveries and the carrying out of business without the need to accommodate through traffic. The addition of landscaping, environmental improvement works and street furniture will make the city centre a safer and more pleasant environment for pedestrians, and will add another dimension to the ‘shopping experience’ in Sligo.

The Borough Council is undertaking an extensive consultation with all stakeholders before implementing the plan.

Among the issues considered will be:

• Traffic flow alternations
• Street enhancement and environmental improvement works
• Access hours for deliveries/loading bays
• Security
• Diabled access
• Bus stops/public transport
• Other issues raised as part of the public consultation process

It is intended that access to the street will be allowed during the morning hours for deliveries with the street becoming pedestrian only during the remainder of the day.