The road to Rhode, Basic Vs Strategic infrastructure

Published 30/Sept/26 By Ross McGann

For the fourth time in as many years, the r400, known locally as the Rhode to Rocherfordbridge road is closed for resurfacing works.

The roughly 8km stretch of road has been done in 2km sections. As the road is over peat there are difficulties regarding subsurface and as such a new Geo-mat method is being used to upgrade the road.

The road is closed from the roundabout at the end of Rhode village, with the official Diversion route west through Croghan to meet back up at the M4.

Background

Over the last few years the road has been used to supply all parts to the Yellow river wind farm, which had its HQ just off the round about, and a second site entrance off two sides of a local road.

In July of 2023 a small bridge on the route collapsed leading to a months long closures and heavy oversized trucks being diverted across narrow local roads.

Even though SSE Airtricity used the entire 8km stretch of the r400, as well as surrounding roads, to build the Yellow river wind farm, they only provided about one million euro, which has been confirmed by local Councillors, would have only covered the cost of 1km of resurfacing.

Ongoing works

Works began this week on what’s being framed as the final stretch of the works. Local residents had called on the council to complete the works during the summer months, to avoid both the school terms and bad weather which often adds to the completion time and condition of diversion routes.

Concerns have been raised by people within the area regarding a stretch of road that is often used as a diversion route to get from the M4/M6 interchange. The road has multiple spots that are dangerously in need of repair and the closure will mean an increase in traffic, both residential and HGVS.

Concerns have also been raised by local businesses in the area, Rhode Village is on the main route between the two motorways and areas such as
Edenderry, Portarlington and many other areas of the eastern midlands. Local business owners know the impact that the closures have had over the last number of years.

Strategic infrastructure:

So it’s after taken 4 years and €8 million to resurface a road that has been crucial for building at least one wind farm so far.

Lets take a look at what else this road is going to build.

Yellow River wind farm – Completed 2025

Clonin North solar farm – Completed 2026

Derrygreenagh Wind and Gas power – Planning stages

Rhode Energy Storage – Planning stages

Google Energy Dome – Planning stages

Hydrogen hub – Early planning stages

Biomass Gasification plant – Planning stages

Rhode Green Energy Park – this is the combination of projects listed above.

On top of the above, Oxigen waste have resubmitted planning permission for a waste recycling plant, which alone would carry 90,000 tonnes of traffic down the road on a yearly basis.

Conclusion

It appears when a large scale strategic infrastructure project wants to move forward both local and national government are able to move things along and assist where needed.

At the same time it takes them four years to complete an 8km stretch of road, while continuing to ignore the impact on surrounding roads used as diversion routes during the multiple closures.

With the amount of heavy traffic related to the list of projects above coming down the line, the question remains as to how long before the r400 needs to be done again and how long will it take to get finished the next time.