The Cabinet has approved major developments on three Donegal roads to improve safety, connectivity and transform historic market towns.

The developments together form the Donegal TEN-T Project - part of the Trans-European Comprehensive Network, a selection of strategic transport corridors throughout the EU that have been identified to play a key role in the mobility of goods and passengers.

The approved plan includes major road improvements, bypasses for Letterkenny, Ballybofey/Stranorlar and Lifford, over 60 kilometres of safe walking and cycling paths and eight "Modal Shift Hubs" for switching to active travel and public transport. This project will enhance connectivity between Donegal and the rest of Ireland, improve public transport reliability and journey times and connect to the A5 at Strabane, boosting links to ports and airports.

The three sections of the road network targeted for TEN-T improvements are:

Section 1 - N15/N13 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bypass

Section 2 - N56/N13 Letterkenny to Manorcunningham

Section 3 - N14 Manorcunningham to Lifford/Strabane (including the link to the A5).

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, said: "I was in Donegal earlier this year and spoke about these projects with councillors and the Executive. Today it is great to see them getting the go-ahead. This major project will increase safety for all road users in Donegal and will provide greater connectivity to the rest of the country. By removing traffic, in particular trucks and other heavy goods vehicles, from the centre of a number of towns and villages, it will make them even more attractive places to live, work, and shop in.

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"Importantly, it will also open up areas within the towns for more transport-led housing development, bringing new life and vitality into them. It also envisages a number of ‘modal hubs’ which will make it easier for people to switch between different transport modes, such as public transport or shared bikes and cars for example, giving them greater choice and ease. This is a good day for Donegal and I look forward to these projects progressing now."

Minister of State, James Lawless, said: "This scheme, which was approved in principle at Cabinet today, provides for increased safety on the national road network in Donegal through improved carriageway alignment, the removal of dangerous junctions, and the diversion of long-distance traffic from towns and villages. It will also protect vulnerable road users through the provision of segregated pedestrian and cycling facilities. The project will also benefit citizens and business by providing for reduced journey times and improved reliability, enhancing accessibility in Donegal and the wider North-West region. I welcome the progression of this project."

The project is currently estimated to cost between €780m and €915m, with updates to be provided in future business case iterations for government approval. This approval enables the project to advance through required statutory processes and prepare a procurement strategy. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, pending necessary approvals.

The Cost Benefit Analysis which has been carried out has produced Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) values ranging from 2.61 to 4.73, which is considered a highly positive BCR. If approved through all its stages, the project will be funded within the Department of Transport’s future capital allocations under the National Development Plan.