Ambitious plans to revitalise key Louth roads thrown into doubt due to funding shortfall

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Fears that major Active Travel projects in Louth may not get off the ground have emerged after a €2.5 million funding shortfall was confirmed.

A number of schemes have been planned in Louth, the largest along the Inner Relief Road in Dundalk and the proposed schemes at Rathmullan Road and Marley's Lane in Drogheda.

There are 15 projects planned overall across the county.

But, a major funding shortfall has emerged as Louth County Council confirmed the “disappointing news” that €4 million is being awarded by the NTA. This was a major reduction on the €6.5 million anticipated.

Cllr. Marianne Butler told the December meeting of Louth County Council that it was understood the Inner Relief Road project was getting underway in January 2026, and asked for an update on the scheme.

Cllr. Michelle Hall, who is Mayor of Drogheda, said there was huge concern about the traffic delays on the Dublin Road in Drogheda, and the impact this reduced funding allocation would have on Active Travel projects, which are designed to reduce congestion.

It was “very worrying that Active Travel projects might not get off the paper, especially in Drogheda, as the Dublin Road has just become total gridlock.”

She added it is currently taking motorists up to 40 minutes to get from one end of the town to the other.

"Active Travel schemes, particularly one which links up to the train station, are just so important for Drogheda, to give people the options as we know a lot of these are short journeys.”

She said it “would be gamechanger for a lot of people, to have that option.”

Pressure needs to be applied on government “to produce the funding which was promised to us”, said Cllr. Hall.

She added: “If they won’t do that we really need to get rid of the toll.”

Cllr. James Byrne asked if the council could appeal to the government directly to remove the M1 toll.

He said “it would solve a lot of the traffic problems we have in town, particularly those Cllr. Hall has highlighted.”

Director of Service, David Jones, explained the council had made a submission in October for permission to proceed with the Dundalk project.

“That approval has still not been received,” he told councillors.

He said they had been advised by the NTA to work on a programme with an estimated €4 million budget for Active Travel in 2026.

This, he explained, would include staff salaries, the Safe Routes to School projects, and the main schemes.

It was hoped that a budget of €6.5 million would be available, the meeting heard.

"This unfortunately represents a shortfall,” said Mr. Jones, adding that it was impacting all local authorities.

He said they would “continue to lobby hard for Louth” in the weeks and months ahead, but are still awaiting formal approval for the Dundalk project.

He added that in terms of the Drogheda scheme, the council await further updates from the NTA, but it wasn’t the case that no progress was being made on the project.

Cllr. Maeve Yore said members had been told that resurfacing would be included under Active Travel on the Dublin Road in Dundalk, from Hill Street Bridge to Mullaharlin.

"I would like to have a commitment that it would be done in 2026.”

Mr. Jones added they await formal approval of funding for Active Travel, and this would impact on schemes which might be considered under the council’s roadworks programme.