Louth County Council has released details and images of a number of major capital projects which they say will transform the county over the coming years. 

New housing schemes, road projects, and bridge construction and restoration works are in the pipeline alongside a series of urban regeneration initiatives in towns and villages across County Louth, as part of the three-year Capital programme 2024-2026. 

At the Council’s December meeting, Chief Executive Joan Martin presented the Capital Programme to elected members for consideration, alongside the Draft Annual Budget 2024. 

The programme features several headline projects which will improve the lives of Louth residents, and ensure the county remains a premier destination for tourists and visitors. 

The provision of new housing remains central to the Council’s ethos, and the Capital Programme 2024-2026 outlines the multi-million-euro investments that have been made in both urban and rural residential projects, to provide homes for individuals and families on the council’s social housing waiting list. 

Louth County Council’s investment in a number of major road schemes throughout the county is key to opening up lands for new housing and infrastructure.

Among the most significant of these projects is the Port Access Northern Cross Route in Drogheda, a two kilometre road that will eventually link the M1 to Drogheda Port, removing HGV traffic congestion in the town and opening up land on the north side of Drogheda for the construction of up to 5,000 new homes. 

The Drogheda Westgate project and St. Laurence’s Plaza scheme will provide significant enhancement of the town centre, helping to recover the streetscape, create high quality public spaces, provide positive regeneration, while also protecting and promoting Drogheda’s unique historical and cultural landscape. 

The extensive work being carried out at Louth County Council’s new Civic Offices in Drogheda will, when completed, bring the historic Fair Street building back to life, whilst embracing the rich heritage of the area. 

In mid Louth, a series of regeneration projects are underway, including the Town Centre First schemes in Dunleer and Clogherhead.

The flagship ‘Project Ardee 2040’ is set to bring regeneration to the heart of Ardee and build on existing projects that are in progress including Ardee Educate Together School, the N52 Ardee bypass and the re-development of Ardee Castle. 

One of the most significant urban redevelopment projects is the St. Nicholas Quarter and Backlands Regeneration Scheme in Dundalk. These works will regenerate and transform the historic St. Nicholas Quarter whilst building upon its rich history, heritage, and the natural quality of the local environment. 

In the north of the county, the Carlingford Regional Rural Development Fund (RRDF) project ‘Living in Carlingford, Visiting Carlingford’ will involve the complete regeneration of the coastal village. It will enhance the quality of the waterfront area and Market Square and the connecting streets, whilst improving connectivity and visual routes for pedestrians in the area with improved public spaces that can be used for a variety of events and activities. 

Work to regenerate the village of Omeath is also underway, with improvements to the public realm that will build on the huge tourist potential of the village with the Great Eastern Greenway bringing large numbers of visitors into the area every year. The RRDF project will enhance the experience of people visiting and living in Omeath, with the increased prioritisation of pedestrians and traffic calming measures, thus creating a more environmentally sustainable village.

Plans to create a bridge for the future across Narrow Water at Carlingford Lough are also advancing, with Louth County Council a lead partner on this historic cross border project that will directly link County Louth and County Down in Northern Ireland.

Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Joan Martin welcomed the progress being made on the wide range of projects within the Capital Programme 2024-2026, saying:

 “Louth County Council has a very strong pipeline of projects underway which will not only improve the lives of people living here, but will future proof the infrastructure in towns and villages across Louth, making them more accessible and attractive places to visit, and encourage further economic investment in our county.”