Frequently Asked Questions

What is the project about?

The project aims to improve the section of the N13 from the west end of the village of Bridgend, to the border with Derry. The route is deemed the most strategically important border crossing in the Northwest linking Donegal and Derry, and also forms part of the European TEN-T comprehensive network.

Currently in excess of 16,700 vehicle movements (per working day) pass through the village and cross the border in both directions. This is in excess of the capacity of the current single carriageway causing congestion, pollution and a poor environment for pedestrians.

The improvements aim to:

alleviate congestion
improve journey times
provide for safer and more reliable journeys
improve the environment for vulnerable users, pedestrians and cyclists within Bridgend
provide improved facilities for public transport

What are the project objectives?

The Strategic Objectives developed for this project are:

To improve safety on the N13 for all road users
To minimise adverse environmental impacts, making the village a better place to live
To improve journey times and reliability
To improve connectivity with the surrounding area
To support the local economy
To enhance the transport network, in particular the TEN-T Network
To provide improvements in accordance with National, Regional and Local Planning Policy

These objectives are based on 6 multiple criteria headings required by the Department of Transport “Common Appraisal Framework” (CAF) criteria: Economy, Safety, Accessibility & Social Inclusion, Physical Activity, Environment and Integration.

How will the project be progressed?

The TII Project Management Guidelines (PMGs) informs the design process. The design phases are also outlined in our project consultation roadmap, please refer to the Public Consultation Tab.

The project is currently in Phase 2: Options Selection, which is a 3-stage process.

Stage 1 – Preliminary Options Assessment
Stage 2 – Project Appraisal Matrix
Stage 3 – Preferred Option

Stage 1 considered the identified constraints, the feedback received through the first public consultation, and the relevant design standards to develop a range of feasible routes within the Study Area. These initial feasible routes were assessed under the following criteria: ‘Engineering’, ‘Environment’, and ‘Economy’. These have now been shortlisted to identify Route Corridor Options to be considered during Stage 2 (Project Appraisal Matrix).

The next Stage, Stage 2 of the Option Selection Phase, will involve a detailed assessment of the options under the following criteria: ‘Economy’, ‘Safety’, ‘Environment’, ‘Accessibility and Social Inclusion’, ‘Integration’ and ‘Physical Activity’ in order to identity an Emerging Preferred Route Corridor.

The Emerging Preferred Route will then go on display as part of a third non-statutory public consultation and the public will be invited to make submissions or comment on the Emerging Preferred Route before a Preferred Option is finalised at Stage 3.

What’s happening now?

The project team, ROD-AECOM, are progressing the project development in accordance with the TII Project Management Guidelines (PMG), and as outlined in our project consultation roadmap, please refer to the Public Consultation Tab.

We are currently holding a second non-statutory public consultation and invite the residents of the local area, members of the public and interested parties to provide feedback on the route corridor options which will be considered by the project team throughout the Options Selection process. These options are generally shown as 200m wide corridors. These corridors do not represent the actual width of the proposed road development or the lands to be acquired – the corridors simply indicate the lands within which a road alignment could feasibly be developed.

How will land be acquired? Will I be compensated?

If lands are required for the improvements, it is likely that these will be acquired by a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO); however, this can also be done by agreement with the landowner. Should any part of a person’s private land/ property holding be included in the CPO, the land/property owner is entitled to compensation. This may also be the case for a person who may have an interest in any land/ property identified in the CPO. Compensation will be provided in accordance with CPO legislation.

Will the project involve any demolition of property?

Given the nature of the immediate study area, it is possible that a property may be affected, and it is also possible that a small proportion may need to be purchased to facilitate the scheme. Each property is considered a constraint and in so far as possible, the scheme will seek to avoid and/ or minimise impacts.

Will this project affect planning application process in the area?

Donegal County Council Planning Department have the responsibility for planning and managing development within the Counties. New planning applications within the study area may have an impact on the delivery of this future project. Planning applications and new developments may still be granted within the study area/route corridor options, however as some planning applications may affect the project all relevant planning applications will be reviewed by the design team. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

As the scheme progresses, the area will be reduced following confirmation of the preferred route corridor, and only applications in the vicinity will be reviewed by the design team.

I live within the corridor of one of the route corridors options. Will my house or garden be lost?

It is the objective of the design team to ensure that the impact on properties is kept as low as possible. At this stage of the process, an emerging preferred route has not been selected, so we are not in a position to determine what potential impacts there may be on your property.

Why are you going through my house?

The options identified at this stage include a 200m wide corridor which is indicative of where the route alignment will run through. This may or may not have any impact on properties within the corridor. Once we have identified an emerging preferred route, we will return with a subsequent consultation event later in the programme.

Will my access be maintained?

Accesses to all properties and lands will be provided, however the location or form of access may require modification to comply with current design standards.

How will I be notified once the preferred route has been selected?

A Public Consultation displaying the emerging preferred route will be held later in the programme. We will put a notice on the project website and through local media and Donegal County Council social media channels when this is taking place.

Will it be single carriageway, dual carriageway or motorway?

This has yet to be determined but road could potentially be a Dual Carriageway or Single Carriageway or a combination of any of these.

What Happens Next?

The feedback and submissions received through this public consultation will be considered by the project team as part of the Options Selection process.

Over the next few months, the next stage will involve the analysis of the options. Each of the Options that have progressed to Stage 2 of the Option Selection process will be subject to the assessment criteria in accordance with the Six “Common Appraisal Framework” (CAF) criteria: Economy, Safety, Accessibility & Social Inclusion, Physical Activity, Environment and Integration.