The project received €1.44m in funding earlier this year.
The preffered route for a long-awaited midlands road project is expected to be outlined this year.
The N4 Mullingar to Rooskey upgrade received €1.4 million from Transport Infrastructure Ireland's road announcements earlier this year.
The project was subject to a two-year-long campaign to have funding re-instated, after it was pulled in 2022 due to pressures in Capital funding.
It will span 54km between Mullingar and Rooskey, bypassing Rathowen, Edgeworthstown and Newtown Forbes.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan says a draft Emerging Preferred Transport Corridor has been determined and work is ongoing on finalising the preferred route.
It's expected that will conclude later this year, with the next phase involving the detailed design and environmental evaluation of the project.
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