N2 - Clontibret to NI Border [preferred route published; ABP in 2022]

Background:

After being suspended for almost two years, the N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme has secured EU and Department of Transport funding and is now back up and running.

Jacobs commenced the design process for this project in late 2018. The design process is following a framework set out by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) called the ‘Project Management Guidelines’. The guidelines break the design of major road projects into phases, and by early 2021 Phase 1 and 2 of the design process were complete, and a 400m wide Preferred Route Corridor was published.

The Phase 3 design process (Design & Environmental Evaluation), commenced in Spring 2021, however due to TII funding constraints in 2022 and 2023 the project was suspended and no design work has taken place since the early 2022. The project remained a priority for Monaghan County Council and alternative sources of funding were explored. In January 2023 the Council made an application to a European Union fund called the ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF), which aims to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment. The project passed the evaluation stage in June 2023, and in October 2023, CEF funding of €2.335m was approved through the fund, with match funding to be provided by the Department of Transport. This will allow the Phase 3 design process to recommence, and subject to match funding should ensure the Phase 3 design is completed.

Current status:

The Phase 3 design process is recommencing in November 2023. Jacobs continue to be the engineering consultant, working on behalf of Monaghan County Council to design the road scheme. Due to the time that has lapsed since the project was suspended, Jacobs may need to review or repeat some previous work, for example environmental surveys may need to be updated. The project team will be in contact with landowners along the route to request access to lands for these surveys.

Another important element of the design work is undertaking ground investigation. Ground investigation provides important information about whether land can support a new road or bridges, or whether rock or stone can be used as building materials for the new road. As ground investigations typically involve some element of disturbance, landowners are entitled to compensation payments, in line with rates agreed between TII and the Irish Farmers’ Association. The project team will be in contact with relevant landowners in Spring 2024, and will provide details of any ground investigation proposed and the likely compensation payment that might be due.

Next steps:

As the design of the road develops the project team will meet with directly affected landowners to discuss the potential impact of the scheme – this is expected to take place in late 2024/early 2025. Feedback will then be considered before a design is finalised. Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) documentation and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) can then be completed – it is expected that this element of the project will be complete by Q4 2025. Subject to further funding, approval and Government consent, the project could then be submitted to An Bord Pleanála as part of the statutory approval process.

Monaghan County Council and Jacobs would like to thank all of the landowners and stakeholders along the route for their co-operation to date, and the project team is looking forward to recommencing and progressing this important infrastructural project.