Realignment of N16 section could begin by end of the year
A MAJOR realignment of part of the N16 (Sligo-Manorhamilton) road could begin by the end of this year.
The N16 Lugatober road project (from Drumkilsellagh to Lugnagall) is designed to remove what Sligo County Council describe as “one of the poorest geometric sections of Sligo’s national road network”. It involves realignment of just over 2.5km of national primary road from the Drum Road (L34060) north to just past the Glencar Road (L3404-0) junction.
The council say it will reduce journey times and improve safety along the route, along with improving accessibility for vulnerable road users through the provision of dedicated cycle tracks.
An update on the project was given at a meeting of SligoDrumcliffe Municipal District on Monday.
Acting director of services Emer Concannon told councillors that the scheme involves the compulsary purchase of 23.83 hectares of land. Over 40% of the land acquisition claims were agreed over the course of last year and negotiations on the rest are ongoing.
She said P&D Lydon contractors were appointed in November 2020 to complete advance site clearance, which included the removal of hedgerows and treelines and over 6kms of temporary fencing was erected. Permanent fencing will be erected as part of the main construction contract.
Ms Concannon said that “these works in conjunction with archaelogical resolution now leave the project in a shovel ready state”. She said that subject to approval and funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (which is responsible for all national roads), the council would be in a position to proceed to tender the main construction contract in July/August with a view to awarding the contract in the latter part of 2021 or early in 2022.
She also outlined how there has been extensive archaelogical investigation of the route, involving up to 30 archaelogists working on 15 different sites last year. Ms Concannon said that these had located new archaelogical sites “that were hidden beneath the ground over several millennia”.
Cllr Donal Gilroy said that he saw that there was to be a roundabout at the Drum Road and said he was “always concerned about roundabouts in open road situations. It is always a danger”. He also asked that as part of the project that the council look at “some sort of control” on the Collinsford road which was off the N16.
He said that this was a very narrow road but he said local residents had told him that it appeared that Google maps and satnavs sent buses and lorries on that road. “The road just isn’t fit to take traffic like buses or camper vans,” he said.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Thomas Walsh said he looked forward to the building of the new stretch of road.