The following is an update provided by the Sligo National Roads Project Office in relation to the selection of a Preferred Option (Phase 2 of the TII Project Management Guidelines) for the N17 Knock to Collooney [Atlantic Economic Corridor] Project.
It is expected that conclusion’s with respect to an Emerging Preferred Corridor will be formed around the end of March (following multi-disciplinary team consensus).
At that point the project team will prepare for and schedule a Peer Review process with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII); this process which is a requirement of the TII Project Management Guidelines is expected to conclude in May.
This concluding stage follows assessment, multi criteria analysis, reporting, additional design considerations, and an intensive period of multi-disciplinary team workshops.
For the purposes of completeness, it has been decided not to publish (for public display and consultation) the Emerging Preferred Corridor until after the Peer Review process has been completed. This will ensure the most robust corridor possible is presented to the public and taken forward for the next more detailed phase of ‘Design & Environmental Evaluation’.
Some of the reasons for delays experienced in selecting an Emerging Preferred Corridor are due to complex issues around aspects pertaining to:
- transport assessments;
- key groundwater dependent biodiversity sites (such as Turloughmore SAC in Tobercurry); and,
- sourcing contractors to conduct early site investigation’s in targeted locations.
The Sligo National Roads Project Office appreciates the public’s continued patience, cooperation and participation in this process.
Yours Sincerely,
The Project Team