Progress confirmed on plans for new Dundalk link road to M1

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Louth County Council has confirmed that plans to link the Armagh Road in Dundalk to the M1 are moving forward, with the contract for a design team now out to tender.

The update was provided by David Jones, Director of Services, at the council’s January meeting in response to a query from Cllr John Reilly. The long‑awaited R177 link road is seen as essential for opening up the north‑west of Dundalk, providing a direct connection to the Dublin–Belfast motorway at Junction 18 via the Red Cow roundabout.

One of the main drivers behind the project is the heavy volume of HGVs currently using the Armagh Road, placing significant strain on local infrastructure and causing daily disruption for residents and businesses.

The proposed link road would not only ease traffic and improve safety but would also unlock major development opportunities in the area. Large tracts of land nearby are zoned for housing, and improved access would be critical for delivering future housing.

The route would also support economic expansion by providing better access to the Dundalk North Business Park, where additional land is available for commercial development.

Mr Jones confirmed the link road is included in the council’s major capital projects plan and will be funded through the local authority’s own resources.

He said that once appointed, the design team will begin detailed work on the scheme with the aim of bringing it to Part 8 planning.

The design and planning phase is expected to take around two years, but councillors were told that “the first steps” towards delivering the project have now been taken.