Sligo Bridge Project Faces Environmental Scrutiny

0:00On April 20th, a 50 million-year-old bridge project in Slago is pushing forward after getting the green light more than 15 years ago during the Celtic Tiger Boom. Approved in 2009 under old 1993 roads, laws, the Eastern Garvoge Bridge skips modern environmental reviews as it hits the tinder stage now. The site sits along a protected river corridor, feeding into a special conservation area, home to swans, bats, nuts, and otters. While some ecological surveys and basic mitigation, like pausing work during nesting, are in play since June 2023, there's no fresh, EU required appropriate assessment to check for habitat damage. Locals are fired up, warning the bridge's massive scale taller than a nine-story building with cables and swan flight paths could wreck wildlife and slam quiet neighborhoods with traffic jumping from hundreds to 10,000 vehicles a day on narrow streets.

1:00Campaigners points with similar suspension bridge and bray, designed by the same firm, now stalled after planners ordered an environmental review over. Swan risks and other impacts, highlighting how newer laws demand more scrutiny that Slago dodged. Slago County Council insists they've engaged everyone in fixed concerns, but with funding locked in and no collision risk studies yet, residents say. It's time for a real rethink before this relic from the past disrupts their river and homes for good.