Where We Stand: Progress continues on Kilkenny City North Transport Project

The Kilkenny City North Transport Project, which would see the Ring Road completed, is set to move to the next stage of a long-running series of projects.

Councillors in the city municipal district were briefed on steps taken to date at October’s monthly meeting.

Although still years away from completion, the Kilkenny City North Transport Project aims to improve connectivity across the northern area of Kilkenny City.

The previous version of the development, the Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension was approved by Kilkenny County Council in 2014, but after legal challenges that went all the way to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the project was shelved.

The objections were brought on environmental grounds which claimed that the council had failed to consider the effects of alternate options to the road and that an appropriate assessment conducted by the local authority was deficient.

It’s now hoped the Kilkenny City North Transport Project will support economic development and planned expansion areas as well as explore and identify sustainable transport solutions that can accommodate future growth while reducing traffic congestion and supporting more environmentally friendly travel.

Led by Gordon Gray, Associate Director at AtkinsRéalis, the next steps for the project include a drone LiDAR survey and the completion of a traffic survey programme, both scheduled for November 2026, followed by geophysical investigations in January 2027.

Flood models are due to be refined in spring 2027, with environmental baseline surveys and ecological surveys scheduled for completion in summer 2027. The development and assessment of preliminary route options is also expected to be completed by summer 2027, while engagement with landowners will continue on an ongoing basis.

Furthermore, Kilkenny County Council have established a project study area which covers northern Kilkenny City and its adjoining hinterland, including both sides of the River Nore and the main northern approach routes.

This stage identifies the area where transport issues will be assessed and ways to improve river crossings and reduce traffic congestion, establishes an area for investigation, rather than a proposed route or scheme footprint and allows consideration of a range of transport options. No preferred route option has been identified at this stage.

Meanwhile, a comprehensive programme of environmental and ecological surveys has begun across the study area to establish baseline conditions and identify key constraints and opportunities. A coordinated programme of Technical Surveys are also underway to provide the information required for route development, transport modelling, flood assessment and future design.

So far, the project mobilisation phase has been completed, with the study area defined and refined. Stakeholder engagement is ongoing, while environmental scoping has been completed. Survey programmes have been planned and started while engagement with landowners is continuing.

Engagement with landowners and stakeholders is continuing throughout the study area as part of the Kilkenny City Northern Transport Project. This includes meetings with affected landowners, gathering local knowledge, identifying access constraints and discussing survey requirements. The project team is also maintaining open lines of communication to improve its understanding of local issues and ensure they are taken into account as the project develops.

No exact timeframe for the overall completion is known but its hoped this leg of the project will be completed by 2028.

More to follow...