A3 Armagh North and West Link
Objective
To improve the A3 Portadown - Armagh - Monaghan Road, a Link Corridor in the Strategic Road Network, by providing a new link road around the north and west sides of the city of Armagh connecting between the A3 Portadown Road and A3 Monaghan Road and to relieve traffic conditions and improve the environment in the historic city centre.
The Proposal
The Armagh Area Plan 2004 includes proposals for single carriageway North Link and West Link roads around the City of Armagh linking from the A3 Portadown Road to the A28 Friary Road. These proposals were considered with three other options and an ‘out of town’ corridor was confirmed as the preferred option on 26 June 2008.
Description
The A3 Armagh North and West Link scheme is included in the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan 2015, published in March 2005. It is listed in the Preparation Pool which contains schemes expected to be implemented within the next 5 years subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary Statutory Procedures and the level of funding available at that time. Roads Service has appointed consultants to assist with the development and progression of the scheme. In March 2007 a Consultation Day was held which detailed the process for assessing the route corridor options that were brought forward to Stage Two Preferred Corridor Assessment and explained the work that would be carried out to assess their suitability.
Three corridors were assessed under engineering, environmental, and transport criteria to determine suitability.
The assessment criteria included:
- Environmental Impact;
- Safety;
- Economy;
- Integration; and
- Accessibility
Current Position
The 'Preferred route' is being further developed to provide a 'specimen design' based on the preferred 'out of town' option, which will be the subject of comprehensive environmental, economic and engineering assessments. Statutory procedures will involve the necessary scheme development and the preparation and publication of a Junction strategy, Environmental Statement, together with Notices of Intention to make a Direction Order and a Vesting Order, with the additional prospect of Public Inquiries.
View Route Corridor (207KB) 
Key Dates
Public Information Day - 13 March 2006
Public Information Day - 20 March 2007
Public Information Day - Selection of Preferred Route Corridor - 26 June 2008
Construction - within the next five years, subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary Statutory Procedures and the level of funding available at that time.
Cost
£56.9M (estimate currently under review)
