Appendix 1.1: Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads

Executive Summary

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. Traffic flows and congestion within the city centre will be reduced. This will allow for the further pedestrianisation of areas within the City Centre.

The scheme will reduce vehicular journey times and will provide footpaths and cycleways which will link with existing and proposed cycle and footway networks on the east side of Sligo City. It is important to note that the scheme is an Urban Distributor Road which will link existing and proposed communities and commercial development areas on the East side of Sligo City and is not proposed as a bypass of the city. The total length of the scheme is approximately 2 kilometres.

Policy, Principles and Approaches

The Project is a Strategic Non-National Road and complies with the development of Sligo as a Gateway City. In particular the project has been guided by the following policy documents:

• National Spatial Strategy
• Regional Planning Guidelines
• National Development Plan
• Sligo and Environs Development Plan
• Sligo County Development Plan
• Sligo Sub-Regional Development Plan

Project Rationale

A proposed eastern bridge crossing of the River Garvoge has been included in Sligo City Traffic Plans and Sligo City Development Plans since the 1960’s. The current traffic plan for Sligo City which was incorporated into the Sligo & Environs Development Plan called for the completion of the Sligo Inner Relief Road followed by a Western Distributor Road and Eastern Garvoge River Bridge crossing and approach roads.

One of main objectives of the scheme is to link communities North and South of the River Garvoge. Currently there are no significant North-South Linkages across the River Garvoge to the east of Sligo City Centre. The River Garvoge and Lough Gill system, act as a barrier to communication and linkages between the areas to the north and south on the eastern side of Sligo city centre and prevent critical mass being achieved. The proposed Eastern Bridge and approach roads, while protecting and minimising impact to the environmentally sensitive River Garvoge, Lough Gill and the surrounding special area of conservation will provide the required North South linkages and will enable the social and development benefits available from greater critical mass be achieved.

The proposed scheme will be developed as a single carriageway Urban Distributor Road and will include footpaths and cycleways. Proposed footpaths and cycleways will link in with and compliment a proposed network of footpaths and cycleways proposed as part of the Hazelwood-Bellanode Local Area Plan. The Sligo & Environs Development Plan provides for strong pedestrian and cycle linkages in the form of a linear park along the North and South banks of the Garvoge River. This linear park will link pedestrianised areas in the city centre with the Cleveragh Regional Park and provide for the enjoyment of the Garvoge River. Significant sections of the linear park along the southern bank have already been developed. A similar linear park will be developed along the north bank as lands in that area develop.

As well as cycling and pedestrian facilities the scheme will also allow new public transport routes be developed to improve services to eastern parts of Sligo City. The scheme will also provide for easier linkages to important community and educational facilities including Sligo IT, Sligo General Hospital and the Government Offices.

Project Description

The Eastern Garvoge Bridge will include from north to south the following elements:

• 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 4 arm signalised junction at the existing R286 Dromahair Road / Short Walk priority junction.
• Northern Link Roads from N16 Ash Lane Junction running 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.
• Northern Road from Cushlough River to the Garvoge River crossing Greenfield sites.
• Landmark Bridge Crossing on the Garvoge River between Ardaghowen House and Martin Savage Terrace / Garvoge Villas.
• 3-Armed Roundabout linking the bridge to the south road tie-ins.
• Southern link for Doorly Park adjacent Martin Savage Terrace.
• Road improvements/widening though Martin Savage Terrace and Cranmore Road.
• Creation of a cul-de-sac on Doorly Park Road at its intersection with Riverside.
• Signalising the existing junction of Cranmore Road with Doorly Park Road adjacent Martin Savage Terrace.
• Traffic calming mini-roundabout at the existing junction of Cranmore Road and Doorly Park Road.
• In general the proposed link roads will include a 10 metres wide single carriageway to include two 3.5 metre traffic lanes and two 1.5m on-road cycle lanes, also 3 metres wide footpaths / verges will be provided on both sides, giving a total width between the back of the footpaths of 16.5 metres. Several sections of the route will have reduced cross sections to suit tie-ins with existing roads and to minimise impacts on properties.

Detailed Description of Scheme

Northern Link Roads

On the North side the route ties in with the existing road network at two locations, Ash Lane Junction and Dromahair Rd / Short Walk Junction.

From Ash Lane Junction the proposed link road heads east running parallel to the Cushlough River.

The road link from Dromahair Road heads south between Glencarrig and Ard Nua Village housing estates to the Cushlough River where it intersects the Ash Lane Link from the east at a proposed 3 arm 33 metre ICD (Inscribed Circle Diameter) roundabout immediately south of Cushlough River. This proposed link road will require a crossing of the Cushlough River which will involve the River passing beneath the road in a new culvert.

From this 3-arm roundabout at Cushlough River the proposed link road continues south following the contours around Rathquarter Hill just above the existing woodland along the Garvoge River shoreline (part of the Lough Gill candidate Special Area of Conservations cSAC) while not rising too far up the hill to minimise the visual impact. This section of the link road connects to a proposed 2-arm plus a dead arm roundabout with a 33 metre ICD, with the second arm being the bridge. This roundabout is to facilitate a sharp change in direction of the road from the overbridge to avoid a significant cutting into Rathquarter Hill, as the alternative would be to have a high skew, long span bridge.

N16 Ash Lane Junction

The proposed link road will form a fifth arm of the existing 4 arm Ash Lane Junction. This additional link will require a major upgrade of the existing layout and operation of the already heavily trafficked junction. This junction crosses the Cushlough River, which passes beneath the road in a culvert. Some slight adjustments will be required at this culvert to accommodate the alterations to the junction.

R286 Junction

The proposed link roads will connect at the existing R286 Dromahair Road / Short Walk Junction, forming the fourth arm of this junction. To accommodate the additional traffic and improve pedestrian and cycle facilities it is proposed to signalise this junction, and to realign Short Walk to meet the R286 at closer to 90 degrees and also directly opposite the proposed link road.

Proposed Garvoge Bridge

The proposed bridge spans the Garvoge River with a landmark structure at the narrowest crossing point of the river system before it widens out to the west at Lough Gill. The area represents the final and most easterly link between north and south of Sligo city and county and of the hinterland beyond, thus providing the prospect of an important symbolic gateway to mark this threshold and calling for a bridge of appropriate scale and status.

The height of the bridge over the river has been set at a level so as to ensure a minimum headroom of 3 metres over the existing riverside promenade/walkway which is at approximately 5.2 metres AOD on the south side and to provide an envelope of 6.59 metres AOD over centre of channel for anglers and small vessels. The overall span from face of abutment to face of abutment is approximately 64 metres.

Southern Link Road

On the south side of the bridge a 3-arm roundabout with a 33 metre ICD will be positioned at a level of approximately 4 metres above the existing Riverside road level or 1 metre below the access road level in front of Garvoge Villas. The arm on the west side of the roundabout ramps down to connect with Riverside while the other arm continues southeast to tie in with Doorly Park estate adjacent Martin Savage Terrace and onto Cranmore Road.

Riverside

From the roundabout on the southern side of the proposed bridge the connection to Riverside will quickly tie into the existing road and will have a reduced cross section that includes a 7 metres wide carriageway with on-road advisory cycle lanes plus two 2m wide footpaths either side. The existing retaining wall between Riverside and Garvoge Villas will largely remain, and it is proposed to construct a retaining wall between the tie in road and the riverside walkway to minimise the impact on the riverside walkway. Additionally the Garvoge Villas Access will be maintained however the raised Riverside road will flatten out the existing very steep down gradient approach. These tie-in roads will have a maximum gradient of 5.5%.

Doorly Park / Cranmore Road Tie-ins

The existing section of road at Doorly Park adjacent Martin Savage Terrace, Cranmore Road between Lidl’s access and Doorly Park Road, are to be widened to accommodate the increase in traffic volumes plus maintain the on street parking for the residents, the road cross sections will vary but will typically include 3.0 - 3.5 metres wide traffic lanes including 1.25m wide advisory cycle lanes and footpaths either side. This road widening can be achieved within the existing road boundaries by widening into the grassed verges with the exception of Cranmore Road, where land acquisition will be required on the south side between the Doorly Park Road and Lidl’s access.

The tie-in road between the overbridge and Doorly Park / Martin Savage Terrace estates will include a signalised pedestrian crossing adjacent the existing local shop and relocated bus stop. Access to all side roads will be maintained and will include traffic calming measures.

The existing priority junction between Cranmore Road and Doorly Park estate road adjacent Martin Savage Terrace is to be upgraded to a signalised junction which will include pedestrian crossings on all three sides.

The Doorly Park Road and Cranmore Road Junction is to become a mini roundabout to act as a traffic calming measure and direct traffic to the Doorly Park / Martin Savage Terrace link to the overbridge, away from the section of Doorly Park Road further north, as this section is to become a cul-de-sac at its intersection with Riverside. This cul-de-sac will include access to a replacement slipway and parking area.

Costs

Sligo Borough Council procured consultants and commenced preliminary planning and design for the scheme in 2006. Sligo County Council did not have any commitment to funding the scheme from any agency and commenced the planning process at its own cost with a view to recovering costs incurred if commitment was later received to fund the scheme.

In late 2006 Sligo Local Authorities applied to the Department of Transport Non-National Roads Division (then DEHLG) for funding in the 2007 scheme of Non-National Roads Grants for the scheme. The DOT made a grant of €350,000 in 2007 towards the planning and preliminary design of the scheme.

Collaboration

An extensive programme of consultation has been undertaken in the development of this project. The following groups have been involved in the process and will continue to work in partnership with Sligo Local Authorities to deliver the project:

• Department of Transport
• Landowners
• Resident Associations Doorly Park/Martin Savage Terrace
• Cranmore Regeneration/Cranmore Co-operative Committee
• Sligo Borough Council Parks Department
• Sligo Borough Council Housing Department
• Recreational Users of Garvoge River/Lough Gill
• Bus Eireann
• Existing commercial and business interests north and south of the river.

Risk Analysis

Severity Scale

• 5 Very Severe
• 4 Severe
• 3 Moderate
• 2 Small impact
• 1 Little or no impact on the project

Risk of Occurrence

• 5 Definitely will occur
• 4 High risk of occurrence
• 3 Moderate possibility of occurrence
• 2 Small possibility
• 1 Unlikely possibility of occurrence

Risk Response

• Avoidance: Consequences are avoided by changing the project Plan.
• Transfer: Transfer the consequences ownership and responsibility of the risk to a third party.
• Mitigation: Reduction of the probability and/or severity of a risk to an acceptable threshold.
• Acceptance: Accepting the consequences of the risk by developing a contingency plan or by accepting the impact of the risk

Potential for private investment

Landowners especially on North side. Potential to become partners in scheme possible land dedication.

Conclusion

The Eastern Garvoge Bridge and approach roads is an integral part of the delivery of further commercial, residential and business activity on the eastern side of Sligo City. In particular:

• The proposed scheme has been designed to open up access to lands on the immediate North bank of the River Garvoge and will assist in the development of these lands.
• Sligo Local Authorities have recently completed the Hazelwood-Bellanode Local Area Plan along the North bank of the River Garvoge. This plan has the potential to provide 6,600 additional residents. As well as residential the plan includes areas of business zoned lands.
• Further north the North Fringe Local Area Plan which is currently at draft stage will provide zoning for lands as commercial, business and residential and can provide for 5,800 additional residents. This plan also includes significant areas of business zoned lands.
• The provision of this scheme is essential to the regeneration of the Cranmore/Cleveragh area and in particular to the achievement of the Cranmore Regeneration Plan and to the development of the Sligo Racecourse area.
• The scheme will compliment the delivery of the Cleveragh Regional Park and will improve access to the park especially for residents on the North side of Sligo City.
• Access will be improved to existing health and education facilities to the North of the River including Sligo General Hospital and associated Health Service Executive facilities, Sligo Institute of Technology, FAS Training Centre and will assist in the further development of these facilities. On the South side of the river access will be improved to Sligo County Council Headquarters, to the Government Offices in Cranmore (Revenue, Social welfare etc). Land will be available for the further development of similar facilities on the east side of Sligo City which will require to be serviced by this bridge and road.
• Access will also be improved to existing commercial and business facilities on the North and South banks of the river including Abbott Pharma, Hospira Medical Products, Cleveragh Business Park, Clarion Hotel and encourage the retention and further development of these existing facilities and the development of similar new facilities.
• The scheme will also improve access to the new Cleveragh Retail and Business Park, and to existing retail outlets on the South bank such as Dunnes Stores (which was recently refurbished) and to Lidl. Further edge of centre retail developments are likely in the future and some are at planning application stage.
• The proposed link roads are generally designed in accordance with the NRA Design Manual for Roads and Bridges with a design speed of 60kph.

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - Preferred Route Option (PDF) - 1,520 kbs

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - Northern Road Tie-Ins Sheet 2 of 2 (PDF) - 710 kbs

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - Northern Road Tie-Ins Sheet 1 of 2 (PDF) - 720 kbs

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - Southern Road Tie-Ins (PDF) - 912 kbs

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - Proposed Link Roads Vertical Alignment Sheet 1 of 2 (PDF) - 766 kbs

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - Proposed Link Roads Vertical Alignment Sheet 2 of 2 (PDF) - 821 kbs

Eastern Garvoge Bridge - General Arrangement (PDF) - 381 kbs