Roadworks hitting traffic and footfall in Virginia

Virginia’s home and business owners are in a state of frustration as a result of disturbances caused by ongoing construction work in the east Cavan town, writes Michelle Taite...

Footpaths are being dug up and relaid, causing significant delays on Main Street. The long-awaited roundabout on the town square is also being installed, with roadworks impacting traffic on all approach roads.

Popular long-standing business owner Raymond Arnold is deeply concerned about his hardware shop, which is one of the town’s oldest establishments. “I see less traffic from customers. You can’t pull up as you can see. It’s very hard to stop outside the premises,” he despairs, visibly upset by the situation.

“I’ve been seeing it going downhill for the last few years, it’s going down slower and slower and, for a lot of people, I’d say it’s the same, and it’s going to continue that way I’d say.”

The council is increasing the width of footpaths around Main Street, taking away multiple parking spaces directly outside Ray’s hardware store, as well as many other businesses in the town.

“There’s no need for that footpath there. It was adequately wide the way it was. It was only paved a lock of years ago and now they tear it up and put down a new one twice as wide,” vents Ray.

Overlay works on Main Street commenced on Monday of this week from its junction with New Street as far as the Credit Union on the Cavan Road. These night-time works will take five days and all residents have been notified.

The works on the Main Street will be substantially completed prior to Christmas, a council spokesperson confirmed.

A separate car park was opened earlier this year behind O’Donoghue’s Pharmacy to cater for motorists and commuters who take public transport to Dublin to free up spaces on the Main Street. Ray says it is largely unused, however the council quote occupancy rates of around 60%.

“They tell you then that there is parking behind O’Donoghue’s Pharmacy but if someone wants to come into me to buy that there,” says Ray, holding up a trusty bottle of WD40, “they’re not going to drive to O’Donoghue’s Pharmacy carpark and walk up here to buy that off me. You need to be able to pull up at the front door, or as close as possible.”

“A lot of people in the likes of Maghera or Cross, they’d go to Bailieborough to shop or to Kells because they can park beside where they’re shopping,” he continued.

Ray contends the new roundabout being installed will not alleviate traffic in the town, as motorists travelling east on the N3 Cavan road will have to give way to those joining from the Ballyjamesduff Road.

“The roundabout really isn’t going to work,” he remarked.

“The main road now is the Bally’duff road. When you come up to the roundabout and, you stick your nose out onto it, cars are going to stop on the Cavan Road. So, cars coming up the Ballyjamesduff Road, they all have to go before cars can go on the main road,” reasoned Ray.

“At peak times, busy times, traffic is going to back out the roads,” he predicted.

Ray says the long-awaited Virginia bypass is urgently needed.

“The bypass would have been a much better idea if it was done and none of this squandering of public money, because all of this is not necessary if you had the bypass.”

A Bus Éireann stop was also situated outside Ray’s business. It has been temporarily replaced by an unconventional roadwork sign with the words ‘bus stop’ painted in yellow on the back of it.

Delivery drivers are also concerned about the parking situation following the newly constructed footpaths, as they are now left carrying heavy parcels up and down the streets.

Cavan County Council confirmed: “The overall investment in the Virginia safety and pavement scheme is in excess of €2 million. This is in addition to the €5.3 million being invested in the Virginia Civic, Cultural, and Library Services Centre, which is due for completion later this year.”

At the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District meeting earlier this month, it was revealed that the local authority had received numerous complaints from local businesses, residents and road users due to the ongoing works. However, councillors believe the disturbances are necessary for the greater good.

Cllr T.P. O’Reilly (FG) expressed his satisfaction with the improvements, saying, “good work” that is of “good quality” is being done on both sides of the road.

Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly was also happy with the progress, and summed up the work saying “you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.”

According to the Council, works on the roundabout will be finished by the end of September. However construction on the footpaths are set to continue for the near future.