Further delays to Burton St Link Road
NO funds are currently available to purchase a small strip of land close to the Mercy Primary School in order to complete the Burton Street Link Road.
The roadway would link the junction of Mail Coach Road and Connolly Street with that of Burton Street and Pearse Road.
But Sligo County Council say the monies required to finish the work is not available.
In his motion, requesting an up to date report on its progress, Independent Councillor Declan Bree said the ongoing delay is causing “significant difficulties” for residents of the lower St Bridget’s Place area.
“An amount of funding was provided in 2013 to allow Sligo County Council to take possession of the portion of the link road which has already been constructed”, he said.
Cllr Bree reminded the chamber that the planning process for the road was completed last year.
He continued: “However, this link road cannot be completed until such time as the council purchases a small strip of land opposite the Mercy Primary which would allow traffic on to Pearse Road.”
Cllr Bree said: “Motorists must now use lower St Bridget’s as an access road until such time as the new link road is completed.
“What we are talking about here is a small strip of land measuring approximately 31 metres long to complete this important link road.”
In his reply to Cllr Bree’s query, Director of Services Tom Kilfeather said that no funding stream is currently available to complete such a project.
He told the chamber: “The scheme would have fitted under the heading of a specific improvement grant but that grant type was suspended some years back. “If a stream becomes available, the road design section will advance an application for funding for the scheme.”