Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is conducting a series of studies to assess the broader impacts of national road bypass projects on towns and villages across Ireland. Traditionally, post-project reviews focused on travel time, traffic volumes, and safety. However, with the adoption of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy and the Town Centre First Policy, TII has expanded its evaluation to include active travel, local economic activity, accessibility, and environmental quality.

Over the past 18 months, TII has completed baseline studies in five bypassed towns—Macroom, Westport, Moycullen, Baile Bhuirne, and Listowel—with a sixth planned for Adare. These studies involve data collection on air and noise quality, travel behaviour, business impacts, and more.

The first comparative results from Macroom, one year after the N22 bypass opened, show a 40% reduction in overall traffic and a 60% drop in heavy goods vehicles through the town centre. This has led to improved air quality, reduced noise, and a greater sense of safety. Notably, pedestrian footfall increased by 28%, indicating a positive shift toward active travel and town centre vitality. TII will continue monitoring these towns to assess medium- and long-term impacts. 

The full report can be accessed here:  https://www.tii.ie/media/bpko2u03/tii-bypass-impact-evaluations_macroom_july-2024_final.pdf