The project aims to improve two sections of the N81 in parallel; the N81 Whitestown Lower Project and the N81 Hangman’s Bend and Tuckmill Project which aim to address road deficiencies contributing to the poor safety record on the network. The N81 Whitestown Lower Project study area is approximately 2km long extending from the Castleruddery Junction to the south to the Ballylion Junction to the north. The N81 Hangman’s Bend Scheme and Tuckmill Project study area is approximately 4km long extending from Raheen Junction to the south to Hangman’s Bend to the north.

Objective 1: Safety - Reduce Collision Rates Reduce the current annual collision rate along these sections of the N81 so that the 5-year average collision rate is reduced to below the national average Objective 2: Safety - Reduce Severity of Impacts Reduce the severity of collision along these sections of the N81 so that the 5-year average rate of fatal, serious and minor injury accidents is reduced to below the national average rate. Objective 3: Local Environmental - River Slaney SAC Avoid significant adverse impacts on the internationally important River Slaney Special Area for Conservation, which should be determined through the completion of appropriate environmental assessments during the design and planning process. Objective 4: Local Environmental - Cultural and Heritage Sites Avoid significant adverse impacts on archaeological remains, historic standing structures and/ or more broadly disrupting the aesthetics of historical landscapes, which should be determined through the completion of appropriate environmental assessments during the design and planning process.

The TII Project Management Guidelines (PMGs) informs the design process. The design phases are also outlined in our project consultation roadmap, please refer to the Public Consultation Tab. The project is currently in Phase 2: Options Selection, which is a 3-stage process. Stage 1 – Preliminary Options Assessment Stage 2 – Project Appraisal Matrix Stage 3 – Preferred Option Stage 1 considered the identified constraints and the relevant design standards to develop a range of feasible routes within the Study Area. These initial feasible routes were assessed against criteria which fall under the following headings: Engineering, Environment and Economy. These have now been shortlisted to identify Route Corridor Options to be considered during Stage 2 (Project Appraisal Matrix). The next Stage, Stage 2 of the Option Selection Phase, will involve a detailed assessment of the options under the following criteria; Transport User Benefits and Other Economic Impacts Accessibility Impacts Social Impacts Land Use Impacts Safety Impacts Climate Change Impact Local Environmental Impacts The Emerging Preferred Routes will then go on display as part of a third non-statutory public consultation and the public will be invited to make submissions or comment on the Emerging Preferred Routes before a Preferred Option is finalised at Stage 3.

The project is referenced in a number of policy documents including but not limited to Project Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework and National Development Plan (2021 – 2030) however the advancement of the project is subject to ongoing funding and statutory approvals.

If lands are required for the improvements, it is likely that these will be acquired by a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO); however, this can also be done by agreement with the landowner. Should any part of a person’s private land/ property holding be included in the CPO, the land/property owner is entitled to compensation. This may also be the case for a person who may have an interest in any land/ property identified in the CPO. Compensation will be provided in accordance with CPO legislation.

It is the objective of the design team to ensure that the impact on properties is kept as low as possible. At this stage of the process, an emerging preferred route has not been selected, so we are not in a position to determine what potential impacts there may be on your property.

The options identified at this stage include a 100 wide corridor which is indicative of where the route alignment will run through. This may or may not have any impact on properties within the corridor. Once we have identified an emerging preferred route, we will return with a subsequent consultation event later in the programme.

Accesses to all properties and lands will be provided, however the location or form of access may require modification to comply with current design standards.

A Public Consultation displaying the emerging preferred route will be held later in the programme. We will put a notice on the project website and through local media and Wicklow County Council social media channels when this is taking place.

The feedback and submissions received through this public consultation will be considered by the project team as part of the Options Selection process. Over the next few months, the next stage will involve the analysis of the options. Each of the Options that have progressed to Stage 2 of the Option Selection process will be subject to the assessment criteria in accordance with the Seven “Transport Appraisal Framework” (TAF) criteria.

Approx 3-4 years before we are ready to tender for construction. Dependent on the requirement to submit an EIAR to ABP, which is likely given the nearby environment constraints. If land cannot be acquired by agreement, then acquisition will be by CPO which, is likely to incur delays. The intention is to have the preliminary design ready to submit for planning in Q2 2026.