Eastern Garvoge Bridge

Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads Scheme

The Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Road Scheme is of strategic importance to the development of Sligo and in linking communities and facilitating development within Sligo City especially the east ward of the city.  The scheme has been developed as a traffic calmed urban distributor road consisting of a 2-way single carriageway, a dedicated 2-way cycle way with footpaths on either side.  Planning approval has been received, compulsory purchase order confirmed, and some advance works carried out.  It is the councils desire to complete the detailed design of the scheme by Q1/2 2023, to progress to Tender Stage during Q3/4 2023 with a view to commencing construction during 2024. The Eastern Garvoge Bridge and Approach Roads Project is listed for construction in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027.

The main benefits for Sligo Residents and the wider community will include much reduced journey times for walkers, cyclists and vehicles between the North and South sides of the River Garvogue in the eastern quadrant. It will significantly reduce travel distance and improve access to the many facilities on opposite sides of the river. These includes the three schools and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo on the Northeast side and three schools on the Southeast side. It will also provide faster access to Sligo General Hospital from the Southeast quarter and better access to Government Buildings, County Hall, the Fire Station, Cleveragh Business and Retail Area, Doorly Park Playground and Trail, Sligo Regional Sports Centre and the newly developed Cleveragh Park facilities. The route will also greatly reduce response times for emergency services e.g., ambulance, gardaí and fire services.

The new Eastern Garvogue Bridge scheme includes:

  • Urban Distributor single carriageway (each way) road and bridge – From Ash Lane /Molloway Hill to Cranmore Road, about 2km long (1.2miles).
  • Cycle ways.
  • Footpaths on both sides of the road.
  • Low speed limit urban section of road.
  • Special road surface to reduce noise levels.
  • Pedestrian crossings and bus stops.
  • Revised Signalised Junction at Ash Lane/ R286.
  • Riverside fully lit Walkway – continuing from Blue Lagoon area, beneath new bridge to Doorly Park.
  • Landmark Bridge for Sligo across Garvoge River.

 

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 County Council to deliver the project:

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

 

Work to Date

  • Public consultations, comprehensive mail-drops.
  • Public hearings for supporters and objectors to the scheme.
  • Planning permission granted for scheme by An Bord Pleanála.
  • Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) confirmed by An Bord Pleanála.
  • Notices to Treat issued to affected land and property owners.
  • Valuer appointed by Sligo County Council.
  • Detailed design public consultation held.
  • Submissions analysed and design amendments carried out
  • Amended details and model prepared and put on public display.
  • Further site testing and archaeological investigations completed
  • Detailed design been progressed and now nearing completion
  • Negotiations with permanent CPO affected landowners now underway.

For property owners served with Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) including Temporary CPOs, the Design Team are available to discuss concerns as appropriate.

 

Current Update (Nov 2023)

RPS Consulting Engineers have been commissioned to undertake (1) the detailed design, (2) the preparation of tender documentation and (3) the supervision of construction for the scheme. In order to facilitate the detailed design, a number of surveys and investigations have been procured and will be conducted in the coming months.

Site Clearance works

Some areas of the project site had become overgrown in recent years. In order to achieve a high quality outcome from the planned surveys and investigations, it was decided, in consultation with our Ecologists, to remove obstructive vegetation. Site Clearance works are currently being carried out on the North Bank of the Project to enable a Topographical Survey and Detailed Ground Investigations to be carried out effectively and safely.

Topographical Survey

A topographical survey is expected to commence later this month and to conclude by the end of December 2023. It will be undertaken by a team of specialist surveyors who will use a combination of drone technology and more conventional on the ground surveying methods. These surveys will record ground levels and map structures, fences, watercourses, and other features in the landscape. The data from these surveys will be used by the Project Team in designing the road scheme and to produce design / tender documents.

Detailed Ground Investigation Works

Supplementary Detailed Ground Investigation works will start in early 2024 to assist in the completion of the Detailed Design of the Scheme. This Investigation works include:

  • Ground penetrating radar (GPR) for the location of services
  • Boreholes
  • Trial pits
  • Dynamic probes
  • Slit trenches
  • Soil and rock sampling
  • Obtaining samples for laboratory testing
  • Obtaining groundwater level readings
  • Pavement Testing.

 

If you require further information on the scheme, please contact Sligo County Council:

Email address: egb@sligococo.ie  (Please email this address also if you wish to be added to Scheme Updates mailing list)

Project Team:

Joseph Forde (Project Manager) on 071 911 1966

Eamonn Brennan (Project Team Member) on 071 911 1958     
(both at Sligo County Council, Road Design and Infrastructure, Riverside, Sligo)