N2 Ardee to Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes
Third Public Consultation on ‘Emerging Preferred Route Corridors’ is launched
Emerging Preferred Route Corridors for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to Border Road Schemes have now been published, and Monaghan County Council is seeking feedback from the public through a third period of non-statutory public consultation.
Emerging Preferred Route Corridor – N2 Ardee to Castleblayney Road Scheme;
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney Road Scheme is Route Corridor Option A, also known as the Yellow Route Corridor. This option was one of the six Route Corridor Options presented at Public Consultation 2 (Route Corridor Options) in November 2019. The corridor predominately follows the existing N2 route for the entirety of its length.
Following completion of Public Consultation 2 and through the Option Selection Process, it was identified that a localised widening of the Option A (Yellow) in the Townlands of Cookstown and Charlestown, directly North-East of Cookstown Cross in Co. Louth, was required. The area is approximately 1km in length and is approximately 140m at its widest point, and the widening is required to mitigate potential impact to Cultural Heritage Sites at Cookstown Cross. This widening was not previously shown in the Route Corridor Options presented through Public Consultation 2, but has been included in the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor.
Emerging Preferred Route Corridor – N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme;
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme is a combination of the Route Corridor Options brought forward for assessment after the 2nd public consultation. Six Route Corridor Options were presented through the second Public Consultation in October 2019, and feedback received suggested combining corridors in the area north of Castleshane to provide other options for assessment. Following consideration of this feedback, a seventh Route Corridor Option was brought forward to the Stage 2 assessment process. This additional Route Corridor Option includes an area of land that was not previously included within the published Route Corridor Options – this area of land is shown in grey and lies within the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor was identified using the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Stage 2 assessment process, with further analysis and appraisal methods used to determine the best performing option. The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor combines sections of Option F (Green), Option E (Yellow) and Option B (Orange). This new Route Corridor is referred to as Option H (Green+Yellow+Orange).
What is an Emerging Preferred Route Corridor?
An Emerging Preferred Route Corridor is the route option that has been assessed to have the best combination of benefits and impacts based on the criteria to be considered for road transport projects.
The Emerging Preferred Route Corridors shown are typically 400m wide. The 400m corridors do not represent the actual width of the road scheme or the lands to be acquired – the corridors indicate the lands within which the N2 road schemes could be developed. The exact details of the land take, earthworks, junction and side road design and property impacts will be developed during the next Phase of the planning and design process.
Public Consultation has now commenced
A Public Consultation process is now underway and Monaghan County Council is inviting feedback on the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for each scheme.
Registered landowners who have land within the Emerging Preferred Route Corridors are to receive an information pack by post on or after the 25th August 2020. The information pack will include drawings and maps of the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor, information on the Option Selection process to date and details of this third public consultation process.
A leaflet is to be delivered to properties within the Route Corridor Options on or after the 25th August 2020 advising that the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor has been identified and that the public consultation process has commenced.
Due to the threat COVID-19 poses to human health, it is not planned to hold large scale public events as part of the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor public consultation process. In response to the COVID-19 restrictions, an online public consultation experience has been developed on the project website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie. This online public consultation experience will allow stakeholders and the general public to view maps, project information and express their opinion in a safe and accessible environment.
It is understood that online information cannot be accessed by everyone, and notwithstanding the restrictions COVID-19 presents, the project team is keen to engage with people through this public consultation. A range of options are available to speak directly with and meet members of the Project Team during the public consultation period, including:
- During the first 3 weeks of the public consultation period, 25th August – 11th September, members of the public can arrange meetings with a member of the Project Team by phone or using digital technologies.
- During the second 3 weeks of the planned consultation period, 14th September – 2nd October, in-person meetings will be available by appointment at venues in Monaghan Town and Carrickmacross. These in-person meetings will allow for social distancing and will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions to safeguard the health of the public and staff.
- Information is available through the project phoneline, where members of the team will be available to give an overview of the project and answer general questions.
- Email queries will be accepted throughout the public consultation period.
Anyone affected by the Emerging Preferred Route Corridors or with an interest in the schemes is encouraged to make an appointment to speak with or meet the Project Team. Please contact them on 087 340 3786, email ArdeeCastleblayney@N2MonaghanLouth.ie / ClontibretBorder@N2MonaghanLouth.ie, or book online via the project website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie.
The third non-statutory consultation will be held between 25th August and 5th October 2020. Submissions can be made electronically or by FREEPOST up until 5th October 2020.
Following the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor public consultation, feedback and submissions will be considered by the N2 Project Team, any necessary amendments to the corridors will be made and the Preferred Route Corridors will then be finalised and published. At this stage the ‘Option Selection Report’, which includes all information relating to the assessment of the Route Corridor Options and the selection of the Preferred Route Corridors will be published. Stakeholders and the general public will be kept informed as part of Monaghan County Council’s commitment to ongoing and considered stakeholder engagement. Updates, news and details will be posted on the website www.N2MonaghanLouth.ie and through local media.
SERVICES
