Louth councillor fears for Ardee future due to lack of bypass

Ardee representative, Cllr Dolores Minogue, has said that the mid-Louth town continues to bear the brunt of heavy traffic while a decision is awaited on the planned Ardee Bypass, and that following the decision to approve the Slane Bypass, progress on Ardee's is needed to ensure the community is not left behind.

In comments to the Dundalk Democrat, the Fine Gael councillor welcomed the news that planning permission for the planned Slane Bypass has been approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála), but switched her focus to the situation in Ardee.

Cllr Minogue said that, "although it’s great news that the Slane Bypass has been approved today, I can’t help but think of the situation in Ardee. As we wait for our own Ardee Bypass to go through the courts, I hope that what is Slane’s gain doesn’t become Ardee’s loss with even more traffic being pushed onto the N2 through our town."

Louth County Council confirmed in January that it was informed that an application to the Supreme Court had been lodged for Leave to Appeal in respect to the High Court decision delivered in 2024 that refused the applicant’s application for a Judicial Review regarding the decision of An Bord Pleanála (EIA and AA Screening decisions) and the N52 Ardee Bypass.

Environmental group, Friends of Ardee Bog, had sought leave to appeal a High Court ruling in May 2024, which refused their application for a judicial review. The legal challenge related to An Bord Pleanála's decision that neither an Environmental Impact Assessment Report nor a Natura Impact Statement are required for the bypass that would cross Ardee Bog. In November, the High Court rejected the legal challenge in its entirety.

The planned bypass has been seen by many in Ardee as being critical infrastructure to help ease traffic congestion through the mid-Louth town.