Pathfinder Project/Initiative Template 
 
Project/Initiative Title 
Title: Rural Cycleway Rapid Deployment 
Owner/Sponsor 
Name(s) Nicholas Whyatt 
 
 
Theme 
☒ Active Travel   ☐ Public Transport  ☐ Public Realm Improvement  
☐ Technology   ☐ Integration   ☐ Public Sector Leadership  ☐ Community-
Based Transport 
Abatement Potential 
☒ High 
☐ 
Medium 
☐ Low 
Please briefly outline why this project/initiative carries this level of abatement 
potential (max c. 50 words) 
The project is centred on looking at methods for rapid deployment of a rural 
cycleway on the verges of regional roads in the county. If successful, the project 
could be a demonstrator project utilizing methods which could be scaled up for use 
on other regional roads in the county and adopted nationally.  
 
 
 
Project/Initiative Description 
Please give a brief description of this project (max c. 350 words) 
 
Please give a brief description of this project (max c. 350 words) 
 
Meath County Council propose to take a stretch of the R161 between Navan and Trim and 
adapt/hybridize current standards and some of the urban rapid deployment work that was 
carried out during Covid to a rural context. The aim would be to start with a trial section which 
would see the construction of a segregated two-way cycleway within the existing road boundary. 
The trial would look at pragmatic ways and cost-effective ways to construct a safe, segregated 
facility quickly whilst dealing with solutions to deal with segregation, drainage, boundary 
treatments, junction/access layouts, signage, surfacing and safety.  The trial section would then 
be constructed and with construction supervision and engineering input any technical issues 
would be ‘ironed-out’ with the contractor. If successful, the trail will be scaled up to longer 
stretches of regional road. This project could be particularly relevant to Meath as long stretches 
of Strategic Regional Roads were constructed in the early 2000s on the R150 (8km), R158(16km) 
and R161 (10km) which have cross sections which lend themselves to being adapted to retrofit 
cycling and walking. In addition, significant stretches of former national roads in the county such 
as the R147,R135,R148 and R132 could also be adapted using methods developed during the 
project. 
 
The Council will comply with its statutory procurement, appraisal, planning and environmental 
obligations but intend to utilize to the full extent  section 38 of the Roads Act 1994 (as amended) 
to provide traffic calming measures which facilitate the safe use of public roads by different 
classes of traffic (including pedestrians and cyclists), The intention would be to devise a scheme 
which was ‘process light’ i.e. to legitimately avoid the Part 8 process, avoid environmentally 
sensitive areas, avoid land take, minimize excavation, minimize utility diversions and minimize

interfering with existing drainage regimes. The hope is that by keeping costs down the appraisal 
requirements of the public spending code would be less onerous.  
 
The scheme will be subject to safety audits and ongoing monitoring. Note that there is no funding 
for this project. 
 
 
 
 
Impacts/Outcomes 
Identify the main impacts/outcomes which this project will yield by end 2025 (these may be broader 
in scope than what would ordinarily be thought of as ‘deliverables’ but should nevertheless be as 
specific and concrete as possible. For example, if a project will yield improved permeability or 
increased wellbeing, some thought should be given to the expected scale of change, and how it will 
be effectively measured. 
1 Better use of existing road space  
2 Provide enhanced cycling facilities quickly and efficiently. 
3 Develop and adapt existing standards and processes. 
4 Assist with achieving modal and climate change targets. 
5 Assist with achieving Government timescales to deliver the regional and cycle networks. 
6  
7  
 
 
Schedule 
Please identify any key milestones, the dates by which they must be delivered, and any potential 
delaying factors 
Date Milestone Delay Factors 
Q1 2023 Surveys Procurement. Staff availability and competing 
priorities 
Q1/Q2 
2023 
Preliminary Design/ Consultations Procurement. Staff availability and competing 
priorities. Issues over standards and planning. 
Q3 2023 Tender/Tender Assessment of Trial 
Section 
Availability of tenderers. Price inflation. 
Q4 
2023/Q2 
2024 
Construct and Monitor Trial Section Normal construction risks.  
Q3 2024 – 
Q4 2025 
Report and Scale up on remainder 
of R161 
Dependent on scheme outcomes 
   
 
 
Chief Risks 
In addition to possible delay factors, identify the chief risks (if any) which could hamper delivery of 
the initiative (3 max) 
1 Planning and Environmental challenges 
2 Staff availability and competing priorities

3 Negative outcomes in terms of safety and insurances 
 
 
 
Leadership Group Support 
Finally, please identify the nature of any required support from the Leadership Group in bringing the 
initiative to fruition 
 Support the findings and recommendations of the project 
 Assist with any ‘Roadblocks’ that may arise in terms of process and standards