N2 - Slane Bypass [planning decision pending]

roadmaster · 01-01-2018 1:39pm

marno21 wrote: »

M1 south of Balbriggan only has capacity issues southbound 7-9am and northbound 4:30-6:30pm. Outside of these hours there is no issue with the M1, it's simply commuter traffic.

Upgrading the N2 would cost a fortune when there are many bigger issues elsewhere (M20, N2/A5 north of Ardee, N21, N14 etc) and would simply create a toll free alternative to the M1 that would then become heavily congested.

The future plan for the N2 seems to be to upgrade north of Ardee to 2+2 and bypass Slane for safety reasons. The rest is to be left as is, and long distance N2 traffic is to use the N33 and the M1.

The cost of dualling the N2 from Ashbourne to Ardee doesn't really stand up when the alternatives are there and there are plenty of more deserving schemes waiting for funding.

I'd be happy with killmoon cross sorted and the N2 Ardee bypass if that ever happened. I travel the N2 at least once a week from finglas. The M2 is allways busy but when I hit the N2 at the pilo it's bumper to bumper right up in to monaghan. People will always use this route coming from south of finglas they will not go via the M1 as it will just add extra time. If you are going to the airport etc from Tyrone monaghan I would go N33/M1. But once Slane gets bypassed it will be a huge help.

road_high · 01-01-2018 2:39pm

Anyone that drives the N2 will know it is a very busy route after Ashbourne. Equivalent I'd say to any of the other major N routes.

marno21 · 12-01-2018 2:31am

For reference with the above posts, TII have activated a new scheme on the N2 from the end of the M2 at Rath to north of Kilmoon Cross. Cross section will likely be 2+2 or HDQC/motorway.

The N2 Slane bypass was allocated €1.7m in 2018 which should get it moving fairly lively.

For anyone who didn't know, the Slane bypass enters it's 34th year of planning in 2018. It recently passed its 4th feasibility study.

Pete_Cavan · 12-01-2018 9:43am

So that would be an additional ~7km of motorway?

I hope the plan isn't to eventually have motorway all the way to Ardee to join the new/upgraded road planned from there north. Linking the M2 over to the M1 south of Drogheda would be a better idea and would help relieve the M1 on approach to Dublin. Slane needs a bypass in any case but single carriageway would suffice.

spacetweek · 12-01-2018 10:23pm

marno21 wrote: »

For anyone who didn't know, the Slane bypass enters it's 34th year of planning in 2018. It recently passed its 4th feasibility study.

In fairness it's not an easy one to build. Slane Castle, Boyne Valley, etc.

Middle Man · 12-01-2018 10:55pm

spacetweek wrote: »

In fairness it's not an easy one to build. Slane Castle, Boyne Valley, etc.

As a Meath man, I think it is a disgrace that this road is still not built - it should have been done decades ago!

Middle Man · 12-01-2018 10:58pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

So that would be an additional ~7km of motorway?

I hope the plan isn't to eventually have motorway all the way to Ardee to join the new/upgraded road planned from there north. Linking the M2 over to the M1 south of Drogheda would be a better idea and would help relieve the M1 on approach to Dublin. Slane needs a bypass in any case but single carriageway would suffice.

I don't think the Slane Bypass will be motorway - Type 2 dual at most I reckon. In any case, a single carriageway bypass (the very original plan from around the 1990's) would be far better than no bypass.

MayoSalmon · 12-01-2018 11:02pm

spacetweek wrote:

In fairness it's not an easy one to build. Slane Castle, Boyne Valley, etc.

34 years FFS. Your not building the trans Siberian Railway here

marno21 · 13-01-2018 11:20pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

So that would be an additional ~7km of motorway?

I hope the plan isn't to eventually have motorway all the way to Ardee to join the new/upgraded road planned from there north. Linking the M2 over to the M1 south of Drogheda would be a better idea and would help relieve the M1 on approach to Dublin. Slane needs a bypass in any case but single carriageway would suffice.

Around 6-8km yes depending on how far north of Kilmoon Cross they extend it.

The plan at the minute is to dual Emyvale-Ardee, bypass Slane and extend the N2 dual carraigeway as far as Kilmoon Cross to relieve chronic congestion in the mornings. The rest will remain as is and traffic will be directed via the M1.

spacetweek wrote: »

In fairness it's not an easy one to build. Slane Castle, Boyne Valley, etc.

The most difficult of builds shouldn't require 4 feasibility studies, it's either needed or it isn't.

I hope this new N2 Slane bypass proposal is designed with forensic detail to ensure it's not ABP rejected again. Thankfully it's not motorway which may arouse less of the objectioners.

marno21 · 26-07-2018 10:53pm

marno21 wrote: »

Tender gone out for ground investigation - likely to see a preferred route emerge soon

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=117778&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1&PP=ctm/Supplier/publictenders

Awarded to IGSL Ltd

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=117778&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=2&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders

This scheme seems to be moving at a snails pace

roadmaster · 27-07-2018 5:01pm

marno21 wrote: »

Awarded to IGSL Ltd

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publicpurchase_frameset.asp?PID=117778&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=2&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders

This scheme seems to be moving at a snails pace

Shocking slow. When they announce the route would they wait a while before ground testing in case the get a lot negative feed back and have to change the route they picked

marno21 · 12-02-2019 11:12pm

Shane Ross confirmed in the Dail today the following timeline for this scheme:

Meath County Council & consultants are currently in pre-application consultation with An Bord Pleanala.

2019: Publication of route selection report
Late 2020: Publication of scheme and An Bord Pleanala application
2021: Scheme construction start
2024: Scheme opening

Limerick74 · 13-02-2019 1:38am

marno21 wrote: »

Shane Ross confirmed in the Dail today the following timeline for this scheme:

Meath County Council & consultants are currently in pre-application consultation with An Bord Pleanala.

2019: Publication of route selection report
Late 2020: Publication of scheme and An Bord Pleanala application
2021: Scheme construction start
2024: Scheme opening

How can construction start a few months after ABP decision? It takes at least 2 years after ABP approval to commence the main construction. People need to understand the reality of it.

marno21 · 13-02-2019 2:03am

Limerick74 wrote: »

How can construction start a few months after ABP decision? It takes at least 2 years after ABP approval to commence the main construction. People need to understand the reality of it.

I'm only relaying what he said:

The expected benefits of the Slane bypass are that it will provide a bypass of Slane village, provide an enhanced living environment within the historic village, reduce journey times and traffic delays in the vicinity of Slane and enhance access between Dublin and the north west region. This scheme is currently at route selection stage. The route selection report is being finalised and is due for publication in 2019. A pre-application consultation process is under way with An Bord Pleanála. It is anticipated that the scheme will be published in late 2020. Subject to receiving planning approval the scheme may then progress to construction. The estimated construction timetable is three years with an anticipated completion date of 2024.

duffman3833 · 14-02-2019 11:07am

is their any links to this update?

marno21 · 02-03-2019 2:58am

Preferred route for the N2 Slane bypass to be published in March 2019

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/new-slane-bypass-route-to-be-revealed-37853147.html

spacetweek · 01-04-2019 9:42am

It’s April, deadline missed.

BelfastVanMan · 01-04-2019 12:10pm

spacetweek wrote: »

It’s April, deadline missed.

The frustration continues..

marno21 · 15-04-2019 11:41pm

www.n2slanebypass.ie domain has expired.

That's all for now...

roadmaster · 16-04-2019 9:50am

marno21 wrote: »

www.n2slanebypass.ie domain has expired.

That's all for now...

I was on the MCC website yesterday and seen that hopefully its just someone in navan forgot to pay the subscription and not a sign of things to come

spacetweek · 09-07-2019 12:41pm

Was the route never announced? Anyone got anything on this?

I see the official site is still gone.

marno21 · 09-07-2019 2:08pm

spacetweek wrote: »

Was the route never announced? Anyone got anything on this?

I see the official site is still gone.

Still not announced.

marno21 · 03-10-2019 4:33pm

Looks like the hold up is due to Meath County Council looking at East/West options in Slane. Project should be with ABP by 2021.

The proposed N2 Slane Bypass is included amongst a number of major national road schemes that are identified for development during the period of the NDP. The scheme is also contained in the National Transport Authority (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area.

The project is currently at route selection stage. Meath County Council have also commissioned a supplementary assessment of East-West options in relation to Slane. This process is well advanced and once the preferred route is identified, the scheme will be progressed through planning and design. A Business case will then be prepared for the approval of both my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform. In addition, the statutory documentation will be prepared, including the environmental impact assessment. Meath County Council have indicated that the scheme will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála in 2021, post the adoption of the new County Development Plan. TII has provided an allocation of €1m to Meath County Council for the scheme this year.

duffman3833 · 03-10-2019 5:13pm

how much time and money is going to be pumped into this project before any work starts, if it ever got the go ahead

marno21 · 03-10-2019 5:17pm

duffman3833 wrote: »

how much time and money is going to be pumped into this project before any work starts, if it ever got the go ahead

2016-2019 funding was €4.1m. Costs before construction will likely exceed €10m just on planning work alone, and further land costs.

For what has been done to date, the amount spent is quite high for such a small scheme.

roadmaster · 04-11-2019 3:29pm

It looks like they are ready to publish the route selections for the N2 Slane, Maybe I am not looking hard enough but I cant find anything on the MCC website or the media platforms that serve Meath but rather this came up on the Northern Sound Radio website.

https://www.northernsound.ie/public-consultation-planned-bypass-slane-county-meath-will-take-place-later-month/

duffman3833 · 04-11-2019 4:18pm

Its also on bypassslane.ie and seen it on one of the Slane FB pages
http://bypassslane.ie/public-consultation-process-emerging-preferred-route
I hope to be attending this myself to have a look.
Action needs to get rolling on this over dealyed project

marno21 · 18-11-2019 11:30am

Emerging preferred route published: http://n2slanebypass.ie/MDT0806GR0003D07%20A3%20PUBLIC%20CONSULTATION%20DAY%20NOV%202019.pdf

These were the options.

3.4km in length. Shouldn't take too long to progress this.

duffman3833 · 18-11-2019 11:45am

marno21 wrote: »

3.4km in length. Shouldn't take too long to progress this.

I was at the hotel and was told that planning applicaiton wouldnt be submitted until the end of 2020.
From talking to other resisdence, not a lot are impressed. Its too close to the village and to many houses. The more prefered option, G, would have gone down better but they said that its entering the heritage zone and cant do that. Which is stupid in my head.

Last Stop · 18-11-2019 11:49pm

duffman3833 wrote: »

I was at the hotel and was told that planning applicaiton wouldnt be submitted until the end of 2020.
From talking to other resisdence, not a lot are impressed. Its too close to the village and to many houses. The more prefered option, G, would have gone down better but they said that its entering the heritage zone and cant do that. Which is stupid in my head.

Have to say, I looked at the options first and picked out E/G as my preferred option.
It’s the furthest from Newgrange on that side and then avoids Ledwidge cottage.

Personally, I don’t believe the bypass should be built. It’s a toll dodging route. You’re within 10km of motorway on either side.
While there is no doubt a traffic problem in Slane, they should be looking at other solutions such as:
A) Video tolling between Ardee and Ashbourne

Changing the signage on the M50 and N33 to signpost Derry via the M1/Ardee.
C) removing the M1 toll for HGVs

SeanW · 19-11-2019 7:22am

Last Stop wrote: »

Have to say, I looked at the options first and picked out E/G as my preferred option.
It’s the furthest from Newgrange on that side and then avoids Ledwidge cottage.

Personally, I don’t believe the bypass should be built. It’s a toll dodging route. You’re within 10km of motorway on either side.
While there is no doubt a traffic problem in Slane, they should be looking at other solutions such as:
A) Video tolling between Ardee and Ashbourne
Changing the signage on the M50 and N33 to signpost Derry via the M1/Ardee.
C) removing the M1 toll for HGVs

The current route would be wholly inadequate even if it was just a regional road.

Pete_Cavan · 19-11-2019 8:07am

The bypass is needed but single carriageway will suffice. The N2 north of the motorway should be detrunked and Derry traffic sent up M1 but that still doesn't negate the need for a bypass of Slane.

Last Stop · 19-11-2019 8:53am

SeanW wrote: »

The current route would be wholly inadequate even if it was just a regional road.

That’s debatable. This biggest isssue at the moment is the level of traffic. If you significantly reduce the amount of traffic (and in particular HGVs) which removing the M1 toll would do, you could start looking at improvements to the existing road.

Last Stop · 19-11-2019 8:56am

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

The bypass is needed but single carriageway will suffice. The N2 north of the motorway should be detrunked and Derry traffic sent up M1 but that still doesn't negate the need for a bypass of Slane.

I would argue it does. If you take all of the traffic that goes through Slane currently that doesn’t need to be there, you would remove the bottleneck and the need for the bypass.

Pete_Cavan · 19-11-2019 10:36am

Last Stop wrote: »

I would argue it does. If you take all of the traffic that goes through Slane currently that doesn’t need to be there, you would remove the bottleneck and the need for the bypass.

I well know you'd argue. Issues would still exist at the hill and bridge and that requires bypassing.

is_that_so · 19-11-2019 10:40am

Last Stop wrote: »

That’s debatable. This biggest isssue at the moment is the level of traffic. If you significantly reduce the amount of traffic (and in particular HGVs) which removing the M1 toll would do, you could start looking at improvements to the existing road.

The M1 toll will not be removed and that road in and out of the village is far too narrow and always has been. Like many other places up and down the country which have been bypassed all it needs is local traffic. Sending it cross country is not the answer. The M1 is already near capacity at the bottom end and pushing N2 traffic onto that would be another M50 in the making.

Pete_Cavan · 19-11-2019 11:21am

Most traffic going north of Ardee already uses the M1 so there will be limited traffic relief for Slane by removing the toll. Detrunking the N2 would be to reflect the reality of the situation.

marno21 · 19-11-2019 11:41am

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Most traffic going north of Ardee already uses the M1 so there will be limited traffic relief for Slane by removing the toll. Detrunking the N2 would be to reflect the reality of the situation.

Given TII are planning a dual carriageway from Ashbourne to Kilmoon Cross I can’t see there being any detrunking anytime soon

Would sure make sense to redesignate the N2 as a national secondary and have the N2 running Border-Ardee-M1

BelfastVanMan · 19-11-2019 8:00pm

marno21 wrote: »

Given TII are planning a dual carriageway from Ashbourne to Kilmoon Cross I can’t see there being any detrunking anytime soon

Would sure make sense to redesignate the N2 as a national secondary and have the N2 running Border-Ardee-M1

It could be renamed N52, if they renamed the N52 the N33.... ;-)

Chris_5339762 · 19-11-2019 10:05pm

Last Stop wrote: »

I would argue it does. If you take all of the traffic that goes through Slane currently that doesn’t need to be there, you would remove the bottleneck and the need for the bypass.

The fact that Slane has a single carriageway bridge with steep hills at either side.... the "easiest" option is just to slap another bridge next to the current one but then you still have problems at either side with the hills. Safety alone means something should be done.

And if you're doing an S2 bridge, you might as well do an S2 bypass in this case and given traffic levels you might as well do a D2. But I do believe in the detrunking of the N2 north of Ashbourne and the sending of traffic to the M1.

smokie72 · 16-12-2019 4:03pm

https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1216/1099410-slane-by-pass/

Saw this on the rte website today.

marno21 · 16-12-2019 6:54pm

smokie72 wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1216/1099410-slane-by-pass/

Saw this on the rte website today.

https://twitter.com/leovaradkar/status/1206614043223633920

Lots of talking. Not very much building

16-12-2019 6:57pm

marno21 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/leovaradkar/status/1206614043223633920

Lots of talking. Not very much building

Ah, so there is a general election coming soon.

road_high · 16-12-2019 9:22pm

marno21 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/leovaradkar/status/1206614043223633920

Lots of talking. Not very much building

And they’re be even less if those Green clowns get their two cents into the next
Coalition

veryangryman · 17-12-2019 1:07pm

Why do RTE do a 10 paragraph article about the route being revealed without revealing the route? The fk, do they just assume people read the article, nod and move on without scrutinizing the subject matter?

road_high · 17-12-2019 9:28pm

veryangryman wrote: »

Why do RTE do a 10 paragraph article about the route being revealed without revealing the route? The fk, do they just assume people read the article, nod and move on without scrutinizing the subject matter?

Because our journalists have a desperately low understanding of anything remotely technical when covering stories. Usually these days with RTE a story like this is swung around to focus on climate change and eco warriors who oppose the road/progress rather than the desperately needed infrastructure

Chris_5339762 · 17-12-2019 10:10pm

The lady on the RTE news that they were interviewing basically said "There are motorways either side of Slane. Can't we make the lorries use those? And leave the landscape alone?"

road_high · 17-12-2019 10:29pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

The lady on the RTE news that they were interviewing basically said "There are motorways either side of Slane. Can't we make the lorries use those? And leave the landscape alone?"

I didn't see the clip but can only imagine this anti road/anti development tripe would be given its usual RTE prominence.

There is motorways love but they don't solve the decades long issues at Slane.

marno21 · 22-05-2020 6:16pm

Tender out for ground investigation on the route

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=167441&PP=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders&B=ETENDERS_SIMPLE&PS=1

unicorn97 · 22-05-2020 6:30pm

What was the chosen preferred route?

N2 - Slane Bypass [planning decision pending]

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