Killydoon bypass under construction

Machinery and men are on site near Killydoon as work gets underway on the next phase of the N55 realignment.

A spokesperson for Cavan County Council confirmed: “Cavan County Council has accepted the tender of Clare Civil Engineering Ltd to undertake construction of the N55 Corduff to South of Killydoon - Section B project. The contractor is currently mobilising prior to the start of works.

“The project involves the construction of 3.7km of a route improvement scheme for the N55. Works are scheduled to take 24 months to complete.”

The contract was previously estimated at €16M.

The new road will link two previously upgraded sections. Five new side roads to link with the old N55 and the realignment of two existing side roads are also included in the plans.

Three new bridges over the River Erne, site clearance, and drainage works are included, along with traffic calming measures for Killydoon village.

The first two phases of work on the N55 realignment have already been completed with the Ballinagh to Ballytrust section finished in 2018.

The final phase of the project will see the village of Killydoon bypassed.

Cavan County Council previously said that the last phase “will offer a safer route for the approximately 5,000 vehicles per day that travel the route and with it bring improved and reliable journey times for motorists, thus improving transport linkages and accessibility to facilities between regional towns of Cavan and Athlone”.

It’s also hoped the scheme will bring improved traffic safety for residents living along the route.