The green light has been given to go ahead for the Slane bypass. The planning application has been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála it was announced today. Community Groups in Slane are delighted with the news and Meath County Cathaoirleach Cllr Wayne Harding from Slane said “the approval was great news for Slane and the Northeast. ” People gave vent to their feelings online, Avril Hevey said that she remembered the day that she was about to do her driving test and a lorry ploughed into a car outside the gate and drove into the gable end of the house. She said she had seen many horrors outside their home. She said ”that the bypass can’t come quickly enough.”
Cllr Wayne Harding
Caroline Lawlor said the bypass approval, ”was fantastic news for Slane.” The new project will see the construction of a 3.5 km bypass around Slane village, including a dual carriageway, as well as a 258 metre long bridge over the Boyne.
The approval is also great news for the Francis Ledwidge museum, a spokesperson for the committee said that, the introduction of the bypass means that the museum will get two bus parking spaces outside the museum which will be a big boost for visitor numbers, ”we have never had a proper coach parking space outside the museum. It was always too dangerous to unload passengers outside” The bypass will also mean the construction of a footpath from the village to the museum on the southern side of the Slane/Drogheda Road.
Meath County Council have also welcomed the decision and confirmed the CPO procedures will commence, more details to follow on one of the major road programmes that will bring many benefits to road users and the local community in Slane and to the wider community. They said, ”Following receipt of notification from An Coimisiún Pleanála this morning (Tuesday, July 1, 2025), 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.”
It comes on the recent news that saw the plans of the A5 road scheme (in Northern Ireland) put in doubt as a group opposed the new dual carriageway of 94km that would have enhanced road safety. The judge in the case found in their favour. It is a treacherous road, with numerous tragic accidents over the years, from Derry to Aughnacloy linking to the N2 and a major route to county Donegal that would have brought greater safety and better road infrastructure to the island as a whole.
More to follow.
