Monaghan County Council appointed AtkinsRéalis as Environmental Consultants to undertake a Environmental Study of the proposed N2 road re-alignment scheme in Co. Monaghan. The AtkinsRéalis Ecology team, were responsible for preparing a report on the likely impact on mammals.

The N2 Clontibret-Castleblayney road re-alignment is 15.8 km in length and comprises a 2 lane single carriageway. The re-aligned route runs along a valley to the west of the existing road, crossing several minor roads and a series of interlinked streams, loughs and associated wetlands. The purpose of this report was to:

– Carry out a mammal survey of the route and surrounding study area
– Determine the extent of badger, otter, hare and bat activity within a 500m corridor centred on the – road
– Determine the impacts of the proposed route re-alignment on protected mammals
– Design mitigation measures to minimise the identified impacts following current best practice, including UK DMRB

Road re-alignment involves the construction of sections of road in areas often previously unaffected by major roads. The construction and operation of a road creates a number of short- and long-term risks for mammals, including:

– The removal of key habitat features and navigational landmarks including trees, hedgerow lines and streams
– Destruction of mammal dwellings / roosts during land clearance and earthworks in the vicinity
– Blocking commuting and feeding routes, resulting in loss of feeding areas and increased risk of road collisions, which may lead to sett abandonment

All works were completed to comply with the Wildlife Act (1976) and its Amendment (2000), as well as the Habitat Regulations (1997) and the Irish Vertebrate Red Data Book (Whilde, 1993).
Species of conservation concern recorded from the route include badger, otter, Irish hare and five species of bats.