NRA Research Strategy

The primary function of the National Roads Authority under the terms of the Roads Act (1993) is to secure the provision of a safe and efficient network of national roads. For this purpose, we have overall responsibility for planning and supervision of construction and maintenance works on these roads. According to the Roads Act, the remit of the Authority includes any training, research and testing activities necessary for the execution of its functions, which include project planning, construction, maintenance and operations.

The Authority recognises the value of research and the important role it plays to help us achieve our strategic objectives. Accordingly, we have put in place a Research Strategy to ensure that all our research activities are carried out in a coordinated way. The aim of this Research Strategy is to promote practical measures that will contribute to cost reducing and/or quality enhancing innovation in regard to the Authority’s functions. This initiative is being managed by a dedicated Research Manager whose function it is to coordinate all the research activities across the different technical areas associated with road infrastructure.

The following pages present the principles behind the NRA Research Strategy, which provides the framework for the procurement of both short-term “commercial” research in response to the business needs of the Authority, as well as for longer-term research projects at PhD and post-doctoral level (see Research Fellowship Programme). This longer-term research is vital as road infrastructure is a valuable asset with a very long service live. Effective management requires looking well ahead at potential advancements in order to anticipate and exploit technological developments in good time.

The Research Programme will be developed on an annual basis in line with the strategy outlined and in response to current research needs as identified by individual NRA staff members and other stakeholders. This annual Research Programme will reflect changes in priorities and new areas of interest. A key element of the Research Programme will be an implementation plan to ensure that the research results are implemented in a practical and timely way.

To download the complete Research Strategy document please click here.

For further information on research activities at NRA, contact Albert Daly, NRA Research Manager, at adaly@nra.ie