Carlow roads allocated €10.6 million for improvements in 2026
The scene of fatal road accidents on the N80 at Leagh, Co Carlow Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
THE Department of Transport has allocated €10.6 million for regional and national road investment in Carlow in 2026. The funding comes as part of a wider national funding package of €1.5 billion, which was announced by minister for transport Darragh O’Brien recently.
Notably, the funding package includes €450,000 for improvements to be made on the Leagh Bends stretch of the N80, which is also known locally as ‘Shirley bends’. Five people lost their lives in two separate car crashes that occurred at the spot near Rathoe exactly a year apart from each other on 31 January 2024 and 2025.
Before Christmas, reported that roadworks on the Leagh Bends stretch of the N80 will not begin until mid-2027. The planned roadworks include straightening the road at the notorious black spot and also the compulsory purchasing of land around the black spot.
Speaking in December 2025, director of public services at Carlow Co Council Pádraig O’Gorman said: “It’s a huge amount of work and there are a lot of regulations. There are a lot of details to go through and a lot of environmental concerns as well.”
Other notable projects that have been allocated funding include flood alleviation works at the R702-173 Coonogue and the L3001-57 Ballinree, which received €50,000 and €30,000, respectively.
The Carlow southern relief road has been allocated €1,000,000, while €150,000 has been earmarked for the Royal Oak junction modification between the R448 and the R724.
