I remember when Hughes’ Bridge opened.
I would have guessed it was in the late eighties, and on foot of a quick Google search, I learned courtesy of sligotown.net that it was indeed December 1988.
I’m not sure was it Mum or Dad, but the excitement in our house was huge when we heard that one of them had managed to get a spin across the new bridge one night after dark before it officially opened.
And we all got the day off school to see the big opening, which made it memorable in its own way. And of course the bridge has been called ‘the new bridge’ for years and years now, long after it has ceased to be new.
But it was a huge thing for the town at the time. In the same online article I read that it was the first major infrastructural project to be started in Sligo town for decades – the town was waiting for something to happen to help traffic congestion for years. And so when cars finally could cross it, it was a triumphant day.
And I was reminded of this day when the Western Distributor Road opened a few weeks ago. We drive past St. Mary’s GAA club and then Mitchell Curley Park any time we are coming home from town and so for what seemed like an eternity to my children (in fairness probably a significant proportion of their lives) this road had been visible, looking finished, but not open.
And although neither of their parents managed an illicit spin on this road before it opened, there was still a great sense of anticipation when they heard that we were going to get to drive on it this month. And we have been on it almost every day since. Cheap 5k thrills during lockdown.
But it’s more than that. It’s investment in our region, it’s something shiny and new, and it’s not just motor vehicles that are benefitting. Every time we have been up and down the road we have seen dozens of walkers, joggers and cyclists availing of the new facility. Motivation to get out and about in this dark January. A spin on the new road.
And in these strange days where so much has been taken from us, it’s worth celebrating the good news when it comes.