FUNDING FROM EUROPE COULD REVIVE CLONTIBRET TO THE BORDER ROAD PROJECT

Monaghan Co Council is to make a funding application to the EU in a bid to get the major Clontibret to the Border road project on the N2 out of limbo. The local authority is currently preparing its application for the Connecting Europe Facility, which is described by the European Commission as “a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level. It supports the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services. CEF investments fill the missing links in Europe’s energy, transport and digital backbone.” The Clontibret to the Border project was suspended after it failed to attract any Transport Infrastructure Ireland funding in 2022. The Co Council has requested an allocation from TII for 2023 to recommence the phase three design process and will know if this has been successful before the end of the month when funding for major national road developments next year will be announced. The other major N2 road development in Co Monaghan, from Ardee to Castleblayney, is proceeding on track, Monday’s Co Council meeting was informed, with the initial design being published in October and engagement ongoing with landowners. Surveys at areas along the route which are of potential archaeological significance are due to be carried out. The geophysical surveys will be “non-intrusive”, it was stated, with no on-site…