N53/A37 Ballynacarry Bridge Replacement Scheme Options Selection – Public Consultation

Monaghan County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and Department for Infrastructure (DFI) are developing a scheme to replace the Ballynacarry Bridge and realign a portion of the N53/A37 road.

This project is focused on providing a safer passageway over the river Fane on the route between Castleblayney in Co. Monaghan and Cullaville in Co. Armagh

The current road alignment on the departure and approach to the bridge raises safety issues due to the bend on the road and the current sight lines. The bridge itself is an old masonry arch bridge that was constructed in 1835. The existing carriageway and parapets at the bridge location are substandard and collision records show a high number of impacts at the bridge.

The new alignment and the new bridge will allow vehicles to cross over the river Fane in a safer manner and will remove any sharp bends from the route. The cross-section of the realigned road and bridge will have enough space capacity to allow for future active travel to be developed in the area.

The existing road and bridge will still be in place and there will be a junction from the new route that will allow for a landowner or private dwelling access.

Arup have been appointed by Monaghan County Council to deliver the N53/A37 Ballynacarry Bridge Replacement Scheme from Phase 1 Concept and Feasibility stage through to Phase 5 Enabling of Procurement following the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Project Management Guidelines.

The Project is currently at Phase 2 Options Selection. The purpose of Phase 2 is to develop and investigate the various route options for the project and to identify suitable structural bridge forms for the crossing of the river Fane.

Public Consultation outlines an important part of advancing the design process toward the development of route options and allows for the involvement of the public in identifying key constraints.

A Public Consultation will be held to inform stakeholders of the proposed Ballynacarry bridge replacement scheme and route options. This Consultation is planned for the 2nd of March & the 3rd of March.  The consultation is being held at an in-person public consultation with all the displayed documents being made available online at https://monaghan.ie/roadtransport/major-projects/

 

Locations and dates for the two in-person events are as follows:

Public Consultation Event 1: 2nd March 2023, 16:00-20:00 Culloville Blues GAC, 1 Corrasmoo Rd, Crossmaglen, Newry BT35 9JF, United Kingdom

Public Consultation Event 2: 3rd March 2023, 16:00-20.00 The Enterprise Centre Dublin Rd, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, A75WF72

 

Alternatively, hardcopies of brochures and comment sheets are available for collection from the following offices (addresses below) or call +353 47 30597 to request a copy by post or email N53A37Ballynacarry@arup.com.

Monaghan County Council

Second Floor

M-Tek II Building,

Monaghan

H18 YH59

 

Comment sheets can be submitted via email to N53A37Ballynacarry@arup.com or by post to one of the following addresses:

Arup, 50 Ringsend Road, Dublin, D04 T6X0, or

Arup, Bedford House, 16-22 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7FD

The closing date for submissions is 5 pm on 20th March 2023.

Monaghan County Council and the Department of Infrastructure (NI) value the opinion of the community on the project and welcome comments from the public and interested parties.