Last updated 15/09/09
Introduction
Being situated in the north west of Ireland the National Primary Roads form the main link between the County and rest of the Republic – the N15 to the southwest and the N14 to the southeast. The N14 provides a strategic link between north-western Donegal, Letterkenny, Lifford and Strabane and Northern Ireland/Dublin.
The proposed project involves the design and construction of approximately 19km of new National Primary Route. The proposed road type is a Type 2 Dual Carriageway, which is being developed by the National Roads Authority for use in this country. The Type 2 Dual Carriageway, is designed to eliminate the head-on overtaking collisions associated with single carriageway roads. The Type 2 dual carriageway system consists of two traffic lanes in each direction to allow continuous safe overtaking in both directions, with opposing traffic streams separated by a safety barrier.
The National Roads Authority had allocated €565,000 for this scheme in 2008. The allocation allowed design work for the scheme to be advanced and the preparation of the compulsory purchase order.
This route commences at the N13/N14 junction at Manorcunningham and continues to a junction with the Strabane bypass on the A5 in County Tyrone crossing the N15 to the South West of Lifford. The scheme will involve a major river crossing at the River Finn on the border with Northern Ireland.
The Need for the Project
The existing route is a single carriageway road, generally without shoulders. The National Road Needs Study commissioned by the National Roads Authority recommended that it was desirable to upgrade the N14 to a standard two-lane carriageway with hard shoulders in Phase 1 of the Improvements Programme. This conclusion is in keeping with the regional importance of the N14.
Current Status
At present work is currently ongoing by Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers progressing the Preliminary design and Environmental Assessments and it is anticapicated that these works will be completed within the next few months. The preparation of the Compulsory Purchase Order documentation is also well advanced. The new project appraisal guidelines will have to be approved before this phase is finalised. The design of the A5 Western Transport Corridor is advancing, and the preferred route was announced in July 2009. This will have implications for the N14, as an ammendment to the tie-in of the N14 to the A5 will be required. It is hoped that this ammendment can run in parallel with the A5 Design process.
The publication of the Compulsory Purchase Order and Environmental Impact Statement will take place when approval to proceed with the scheme has been obtained, however, funding may not be available to proceed. Subsequent to the publishing, it is expected that An Bord Pleanala will convene an Oral Hearing as part of the CPO/EIS procedures. Subject to a positive decision from An Bord Pleanala and depending on NRA funding, Land Acquisition, Archaeological Testing, Design and Tender/Procurement will then take place.
Consultant Engineers Employed on the Project
Mott McDonald EPO Limited