N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road

Summary

The N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road project will improve the safety of the N5 national primary route between Ballaghaderreen and Scramoge. The €200 million scheme will bypass the towns of Frenchpark, Ballinagare, Tulsk and Strokestown and boost economic, social and tourism development in the region by enhancing connectivity between the west, midlands and Dublin.

ROD-AECOM alliance has worked closely with Roscommon National Roads Regional Office (NRRO) for over seven years to bring the road development through the preliminary design and statutory planning phases, as well as the more recent contract procurement phase. Our current responsibilities include providing contract administration, construction monitoring and handover stage services for the construction phase of project.

Roadbridge was awarded the design and build construction contract in June 2021.

The contract is expected to take three years to complete.

Key scheme elements

34km of new Type 1 single carriageway
16km of realignment of existing roads
Five roundabouts
16 ‘T’ junctions
Three road underbridges and one road overbridge
Four river bridges
Numerous culverts and accommodation underpasses
Pedestrian and cycling facilities

One of the most, if not the most, important projects in the country.

Eugene Cummins

Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council

Challenge

The archaeological sensitivity of the area presented a significant challenge for the project team. The Rathcroghan Archaeological complex, a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site with its 240 recorded monuments (RMPs), was located at the centre of the Study Area considered at statutory planning stage. The route also passes through the former Strokestown Park demesne, an architecturally sensitive site and home to the National Famine Museum.

Highlight

Following extensive consultation with the key stakeholders, studies, archaeological surveys and investigations, ROD-AECOM Alliance developed a road design to avoid and/or minimise effects on the site. An oral hearing was held over two days in October 2018. An Bord Pleanála confirmed approval for the scheme in January 2019.