Change to road programme in Cavan-Belturbet

Councillors have reprioritised roads listed for investment on the 2023-24 approved roadwork’s programme in the Cavan-Belturbet area.

Local elected members were informed that the L-1518-0 at Knockateery to Drumbrawn in the direction of Ballyhaise from Cloverhill “needs work to be done much sooner” than planning works on the L-2034-0 at Drumalee.

The Drumalee route was next in line on the list of roads earmarked on the 2023 Restoration Improvement Programme, however Senior Engineer Paul Mulligan noted that the surface had “held up” much better than anticipated.

His proposal therefore was to swap the position of the Drumalee project with the Knockateery to Drumbrawn route to ensure the latter received the urgent treatment it required.

The current roadwork’s programme lasts for three years, and is already one year old having been adopted in 2022.

There were no objections from the councillors present, who were also provided with a comprehensive and extensive update regarding all other road projects currently underway across the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District area.

Mr Mulligan informed members that work taking place at Swellan was “well advanced”, where a footpath had been extended leading up to the Cavan Rugby Club.

“We thought when we looked at the job it was just about putting in a footpath,” said the engineer who explained how a retaining wall had to be built and repairs carried out to broken sewerage mains.

Elsewhere in the town Mr Mulligan accepted that councillors had received plenty of representations regarding the deteriorating condition of the L-2538 at Cock Hill (Dunnes Stores to Gaelscoil).

He said the improvement works planned on that section of road way were “on a list for the town”.

He stated too that the recent works on the Main Street had only “highlighted” the need for investment at Cock Hill.

Works meanwhile are “near completion” on a section of the L-5538 Latt-Keadew, which would link up with improvements carried out on another part of the road previously. “It means the road will be done from end to end,” explained Mr Mulligan.

Elsewhere, improvement works are planned for the R-205-0 Doon-Ballyconnell Main Street, between the junction on the N87 to the Relief Road; and on the R-201 Killeshandra to Milltown (Keelagh-Derrygid).

It was said that the council would have to “assess” damage caused by winter salting when it came to planned improvements on the L-1508-0 Drumerdannan-Derryvackny (Killeshandra to Butlersbridge).

The works would be carried out for up to three kilometres west of Carratraw Bridge to the R201, but Mr Mulligan stated some sections remained “better than others”.

“There may be more sections that need attention,” he said.

Further west, improvement works are scheduled for the L-50231-0 Tullyloughfin/ Altachullion Upper road, and also the L-1030-0 Bawnboy-Erraran (Marsh Road).

The latter was the subject of an individual motion tabled for discussion by Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty who asked that “safety measures” be introduced.

Mr Mulligan said that “as soon as funding is available” the council will address such concerns.

“If it was easy, it would have been done long ago,” he said, noting that there was a “drop either side” that needed to be contended with. “We have to support the road.”

Regarding the 2024 Road Improvement list, Mr Mulligan said much would depend on the funding allocated to the local authority for the year.

The L-1519-10 “needs attention” he said, as does the L-1532-0 Drumgola-Coolboyoge (Loreto Road to N3).

Listed too for next year are the R-212-2 Latt-Keadew (St Pat’s to Cavan Institute), the L-5568-0 Creenagh Glebe-Drumroosk (Killeshandra), the Deravony Road in Belturbet (L-5515-0 Raheelan-Greathill), the L-5521-0 Agavilla/Tawlaght (off the n87 near Staghall), and on Dowra’s Main Street from the speed limit to the area where the bottlebanks area kept (R-207-2).

It was said while the L-1033-0 Gowlagh South (Kingfisher cycle trail) was in “good nick” at present, it still needed “attention”, and finally works will be carried out on the L-1009-0 at Tullynafreave, connecting the Cavan Way to the Shannon Pot.

Mr Mulligan concluded his report by telling elected members that the council staff are working on compiling the “spreadsheets” for the roadworks programme for 2025-2027.

He asked councillors to “think ahead” with regards to road problems in their areas. “We want to be ready."