1.1 Purpose of National Roads 2040

1 Introduction

Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s (TII) primary functions are to: operate, maintain and extend the life of national roads and light railway infrastructure. These functions will ensure the safety and efficiency of our transport networks, ensure appropriate management of environmental resources and contribute to the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient society. TII must deliver national road, light railway, metro and Active Travel infrastructure, contributing to compact growth, sustainable mobility, enhanced regional accessibility and the transition to a low-carbon future. TII must operate TII’s light rail, tolling and traffic control systems and contribute to the electrification and digitalisation of transport, benefiting our customers and contributing to sustainable mobility and de-carbonisation of transport.

1.1 Purpose of National Roads 2040

National Roads 2040 (NR2040) is TII’s long-term strategy for planning, operating, and maintaining the National Roads network. NR2040 has been developed to support the delivery of Project Ireland 2040 objectives and to align with the Department of Transport’s (DoT) National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI, December 2021). NR2040 also aligns with commitments in wider policy including the Climate Action Plan and the DoT’s National Sustainable Mobility policy.

TII conducted analysis to understand differing functions of the national roads network and to identify how to realise policy ambitions included in the Project Ireland 2020 National Planning Framework (NPF) and NIFTI. With NR2040 TII identifies key issues facing the current and future national road network.

The provision of network improvements is still a key responsibility for TII. The management and operation of the National Roads network is expected to require greater resources into the future. The focus in the NR2040 strategy is on maintaining a functional, well-performing and evolving National Roads network, guiding the full range of TII’s National Roads activities over a 20-year period. Through the strategy TII provides a framework for outlining priorities for future investment across National Roads, in the face of fiscal, social, and environmental change. NR2040 is a means to communicate TII’s strategic perspective; providing guidance to sponsoring agencies and local authorities, as to types of investments and areas where these will be made.

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TII has responsibility to secure the provision of a safe and efficient network of national roads…and in doing so must consider the needs of all roads users

Roads Act 1993