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.
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:
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.
The Eastern Garvoge Bridge will include from north to south the following elements:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre 2007 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
Total | |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ | |
Expenditure |
||||||
Payments to Main Contractor |
340,500 | 7,850,000 | 11,464,811 | 19,655,311 | ||
Consultants Fees / Project Management |
728,055 | 1,219,884 | 1,101,153 | 721,056 | 3,770,148 | |
Legal Fees |
500,000 | 175,000 | 675,000 | |||
Specialist Fees |
2,736,950 | 1,348,050 | 4,085,000 | |||
Land Acquisition |
3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 6,000,000 | |||
Miscellaneous |
9,928 | 9,928 | ||||
Total Expenditure |
0 | 737,982 | 7,797,334 | 13,474,203 | 12,185,867 | 34,195,386 |
Income |
||||||
Gateway Innovation Fund |
2,323,667 | 5,162,101 | 5,992,934 | 13,478,702 | ||
Other Government Funding |
450,339 | 550,000 | 3,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 6,000,339 | |
Sligo Local Authorities - Revenue |
0 | |||||
Sligo Local Authorities - Capital |
7,000,000 | 7,716,346 | 14,716,346 | |||
Private Investment |
0 | |||||
Total Income |
0 | 450,339 | 2,873,667 | 15,662,101 | 15,209,280 | 34,195,387 |
Balance |
0 | 287,644 | 4,923,667 | -2,187,898 | -3,023,413 | 0 |
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.
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:
| Priority | Risk Description | Severity | Risk of Occurrence | Risk Score | Risk Response | Risk response | Severity | Risk of Occurrence | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insufficient Funding | 5 | 3 | 15 | All available funding strands pursued and utilised to establish sufficient funding for the project. | Mitigation | 5 | 2 | 10 | |
| Lack of coordinated funding package | 5 | 3 | 15 | Coordination with funding strands/agencies to ensure coordinated funding package developed | Mitigation | 5 | 2 | 10 | |
| Planning | 5 | 3 | 15 | EIS/CPO Procedure required. EIS to be submitted to ABP before end of 2007. Decision expected by mid 2008. High level of advance public consultation, Pre Planning Consultation and high quality Design and analysis. | Mitigation | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| Cooperation of landowners | 5 | 4 | Meetings and advance consultations to take place with major landowners. | Mitigation | 5 | 2 | 10 | ||
| Public Consultation process. Local public debate may be necessary on details of scheme. | 4 | 5 | Advance public consultations have taken place and are ongoing in order to inform preliminary scheme design and EIS. | Mitigation | 4 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Insufficient internal resources to progress scheme | 5 | 3 | 1 | Management structure to be put in place to optimise resources and output of scheme. | Mitigation | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| Procurement process | 4 | 3 | 12 | Procurement process to strictly follow EU and Irish Government Directives. | Mitigation | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| Cost Over-Runs | 4 | 4 | 16 | Introduction of fixed price Contract. | Transfer | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| Quality of Contractor(s) | 5 | 3 | 15 | Pre qualification Process for Contractors. | Mitigation | 5 | 1 | 5 | |
| Delay due to poor ground conditions/unforeseen conditions | 4 | 4 | 16 | Extensive site investigations. Appropriate risk transfer to contractor. | Mitigation | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| Quality of pre-contract information from Utilities | 4 | 3 | 12 | Extensive Consultation with Service Utilities. | Mitigation | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| Archaeological Finds | 4 | 3 | 12 | Advance archaeological studies have been carried out to identify sites of Archaeological Potential. Advance Archaeological excavations prior to main contract proposed to resolve any known or unknown archaeological features. | Mitigation | 4 | 1 | 4 |
Landowners especially on North side. Potential to become partners in scheme possible land dedication.
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:
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