EMBRACE-Mobility, a Sustainable Communities Challenge project funded by Research Ireland (RI), aims to prototype a decision support tool for prioritising bridge maintenance with a focus on rural community accessibility. Launched in September 2023, we are now in the Grow phase of this challenge, engaging extensively with stakeholders (e.g. the general community, local authorities and technical experts) to capture and shape innovative ideas that ensure rural connectivity and promote more sustainable, resilient communities in Ireland.