The Rathbeale Road Upgrade saw one kilometre of rural regional road on the edge of Swords town being transformed to a more urban layout, complete with cycle tracks and footpaths along both sides. The upgraded stretch runs from the Murrough Road junction to the Swords Western Distributor Road junction at Rathbeale Cottages. Previously a narrow road with poor pedestrian and cycle facilities, the scheme has resulted in a much safer environment for people engaging in active travel. The driving factor behind the upgrade was to create a greater connectivity for residents of new and developing residential communities at Oldtown and Mooretown, through which the road passes, and the main town centre of Swords.
Under the scheme, the road was reconstructed and realigned whilst new segregated cycle facilities were also incorporated. New junctions were constructed to facilitate access to future development plots, several new pedestrian crossings were incorporated along the length of the road, and an existing dilapidated masonry arch culvert taking a stream under the road was replaced with a new culvert crossing. The horizontal and vertical road alignment was altered to improve forward visibility for vehicles, and the opportunity was taken to regulate and upgrade underground drainage, services and utilities. New services were also planned and installed to cater for future requirements of the surrounding development lands.
