€57m will be invested in Sligo’s roads in 2021
IN THE region of €57 million will be invested in the construction, improvement and maintenance of public roads and associated infrastructure in Sligo in 2021, according to Sligo County Council. On Monday the Department of Transport notified the council that its allocation for regional and local road grants for 2021 is €15,338,516.
Included in the figure are specific allocations to progress the new Eastern Garavogue bridge and the new Mail Coach Road to Burton Street link road in Sligo town, more money for the R284 Gleann road and a number of other roads throughout the county.
The 2020 allocation was €17,879,738 but the council say that included in that was almost €4m for the Western Distributor Road construction, so adjusting for that figure, the 2021 overall allocation is up by approximately €1.5m over 2020 figures.
And the council say that “this is a very welcome increase across the main funding categories”.
Sligo County Council cathaoirleach Cllr Dara Mulvey said: “In the current climate, I believe this funding is hugely significant right across our roads programme. The allocation of €7.3m on restoration improvement and €1.2m on restoration maintenance, in particular, will enable essential works to be carried out on our road network throughout the county.”
He pointed out that the R284 Gleann road (the R284 runs from Carraroe to
Ballyfarnon) has received a further allocation this year of €120,000, and the Burton Street link road has received a very welcome allocation of €400,000 to further advance this scheme.
The Eastern Garavogue bridge has been allocated €250,000 to finalise the detailed design and contract document preparation which will allow for that scheme to go to a stage of tenders being sought from contractors to build the bridge.
There is also specific allocation of €350,000 for resurfacing works on the R287 Pearse Road to Carraroe road.
Acting director of services Emer Concannon said this week’s allocation, taken in conjunction with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) funding (for national roads) announced in December and the Council’s own roads programme contribution, will allow them to proceed with the preparation of a Roadworks Programme for 2021.
Acting chief executive Tom Kilfeather said: “Combining the December TII funding announcement, with this funding and the Council’s own contribution to the roads programme, we will see a total investment of approximately €57 million in the construction, improvement and maintenance of public roads and associated infrastructure in Sligo in 2021. Welcoming the funding, local TD Frank Feighan said: “This funding will cover routine maintenance to safeguard our infrastructure, ensure that our roads are resilient against the deteriorating effects of climate change and also contains provisions for walking and cycling infrastructure and safety schemes.”
He also said that funding for the roll out of a signage programme relating to lower speed limits in housing areas as well as ‘safe passing’ signs for cyclists will also be provided for as part of the allocations. He added: “All strategic road improvement investment schemes will include provisions for walking and cycling infrastructure to take account of the needs of all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.”