Monaghan County Council launches Public Consultation on the proposed N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme

Monaghan County Council is seeking feedback on the study area and key constraints on the proposed N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme.

Monaghan County Council is working in association with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to upgrade a section of the N2/A5 Dublin-Derry Road. The Clontibret to Border road scheme will upgrade a 28km section of the N2. Monaghan County Council is working in partnership with Louth County Council to upgrade the second element of the project - a 32km section of the N2 between Ardee and Castleblayney. Together with the other improvements planned for the N2/A5 route, the proposed scheme will significantly improve transport connectivity along the N2 and provide safer and more efficient access to other strategic national roads.

The N2 Clontibret to Border scheme had originally been initiated in 2008 and a preferred route corridor was identified in 2012, however due to the economic downturn further progress was suspended. Funding has now become available under Project Ireland 2040 to progress the planning and design of the scheme. Due to changes in environmental legislation, design standards and to comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, it will be necessary to carry out a new route selection process and the existing preferred route corridor may change. This will require all stages of the planning and design process to be undertaken again, including identifying a study area, constraints, identifying route corridor options and selecting a preferred route corridor.  

A study area has been identified  and Monaghan County Council is holding a series of non-statutory consultations where it is seeking the public’s feedback on the study areas and key constraints. Two public consultation days will take place for the N2 Clontibret to Border scheme in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan on the 18^th and 19^th June 2019 between 2pm and 8pm each day. 

Speaking about the upcoming launch of the public consultations, Patricia Monahan, Director of Services for Monaghan County Council, said “The National Development Plan 2018 – 2027 has identified that the scheme should be progressed through the design and planning process – this is good news for the development of the border region. This important project will enhance key North/South and Regional connectivity and improve road safety. We are now launching a public consultation period and are seeking feedback on the study areas and key constraints. We would encourage members of the public to attend the upcoming public consultation days, where the project team will be available to update the public on the project and answer any questions people may have. For those who cannot attend the public consultation events, a dedicated project website has been developed and all of the public consultation information can be downloaded from it.’

Subject to funding, the design process will be developed in stages with opportunities for the public to participate in the decision-making at each stage. A consultation roadmap, available to download from the project website, illustrates when the public and stakeholders will be consulted and gives indicative dates for each stage of the process.

All information about the public consultations, including study area maps and feedback forms, can be downloaded from the project website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie. Submissions can be made electronically or by FREEPOST up until Thursday 18^th July 2019 for the N2 Clontibret to Border Scheme.

After all known constraints have been identified, route corridor options will be developed - during this process there will be other opportunities to give feedback and make submissions in relation to the route options. Details of future public consultation events will be posted on the website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie and through media notices.