A planning application for the Slane bypass in Co Meath has been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The project will see the construction of a 3.5km long bypass around Slane village and includes a dual carriageway as well as a 258 metre-long bridge over the River Boyne.
The application also includes a plan to develop public spaces around the village.
A previous proposal for the bypass was refused permission 13 years ago.
Slane is located at the crossroads of two major arteries for traffic – the N2 which links Dublin to Derry and the N51 which links Delvin, Co Westmeath to Drogheda, Co Louth via Navan.
It was previously estimated that around 17,000 vehicles travel through the village every day via the N2 and N52.
Multiple calls to develop a bypass to address road safety concerns have been made over the past decades.
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In 2012, An Bord Pleanála rejected plans for a bypass saying it was within the viewshed of the World Heritage site of Brú na Bóinne complex, which encompasses Newgrange.
Meath County Council said that the previous reasons for the planning refusal had been taken into account by the project team in its most recent application as had changes to design standards, government policies and environmental legislation.
The Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council has said the bypass is a long time coming.
Councillor Wayne Harding, who is a Slane resident and has campaigned for the project for years, said the bypass will significantly improve road safety in the village.
“I’m so delighted that it will happen. It’s years, decades in the making,” he said.
“There’s been so many campaigns, so many deaths and injuries on the roads around Slane and in the village. Today is a really, really positive day.
“It was put to planning in 2012. There was 23 recorded [road] deaths in the village, and it finally went to planning. There was a lot of objection to it then, and there was issues around how close it was to the tombs at Newgrange.
“It was refused in 2012 and since then, there has been massive work put into putting it back to planning. The issues have been addressed, and today is a wonderful day, a grant of planning for the Slane bypass. It’s no longer coming.”
The Fianna Fáil councillor also said that the project will see the enhancement of the village itself.
He said: “There’s a public realm plan that will completely change the village, enhance the village, tree planting, cycle routes, a much safer place for the children of Slane.
“The national school is on the end [of the village] and it’s very dangerous. I was only in it there a few weeks ago at their last assembly. It’s a dangerous, dangerous place.
“Today is big news, good news, good news for the whole of the north east.”
In a statement, Meath County Council said: “Following receipt of notification from An Coimisiún Pleanála this morning, Meath County Council is delighted to announce the approval of the N2 Slane Bypass and Public Realm Enhancement Scheme, and confirmation of the CPO associated with same.”
