‘Lethal’ cross at Kilnagher highlighted

The council is to approach Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for an update regarding proposals to address safety concerns at Kilnagher Cross on the N87 Belturbet-Ballyconnell Road.

It is the third time in as many years that the same issue has been raised for discussion by councillors elected to the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District area, where once again councillors asked that a electronic sign be installed to warn motorists on approach of the potential dangers.

This time it was Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty who raised the matter, telling the recent MD meeting that he had traversed Kilnagher Cross just before Christmas.

“It’s not a nice place to be sitting,” he said, before adding: “I can assure you, it’s dangerous.”

He then asked if TII, formerly the National Roads Authority, had replied to the council regarding past representations. “Nothing yet,” informed senior engineer Paul Mulligan, but said that the council would once again make contact seeking an update regarding what measures could be applied.

He said there are warning signs in place already, adding that “flashing” electronic signs were “not the be all and end all”. “When they work, they’re great,” he said, noting that he would also speak with the council’s own roads design team to examine potential solutions for the junction.

“It's something we are pushing to get done,” assured Mr Mulligan, but accepted there were issues regarding land ownership that also need to be resolved.

Independent Cllr Brendan Fay, who spoke on the matter before, said it would require “a bigger job” rather than trying to fix the problems in a piecemeal fashion.

He said the junction, at times, with oncoming traffic from both directions, was “absolutely lethal”.

He also asked if hedging could be “cut back”.

Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley said all of the arguments had been “rehearsed” before, but still nothing had been done. “One engineer says one thing is needed to be done, and another says another thing.”

An irate Cllr McVitty went on to state that, as elected representatives, they felt they weren’t “being listened to” and their input “taken for granted”.

“It’s beyond a joke.”

Meanwhile, at the same meeting, it was stated that any fix to the Crossdoney to Killeshandra Road would require the backing of councillors from two local municipal districts- Cavan-Belturbet and Ballyjamesduff.

That was the opinion shared by Fianna Fail’s John Paul Feeley who raised the “need for works” on the route connecting the R198 Crossdoney through the R199 and onto Killeshandra Town.

“Part of it is not in our MD,” he reminded.

He was aware of “engagements” with landowners along the route in the past and pointed out that the surface had begun to “split and crack” due to heavy traffic.

“We need to have a look at with our colleagues in the Ballyjamesduff area.”

Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty offered: “Anything that can be done should be done.”

He asked if a “special” funding could be sourced from government for the project.

There was support too from Independent Brendan Fay and Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) who described it as a “dangerous road”.

Senior Engineer Paul Mulligan told the meeting that significant “realignment” was necessary, but this would need a “significant amount of money”.

Sections of work had been completed down through the years, but he said regarding the overall picture: “You need to have the landowners with you, and you need to have the money.”