Safety barriers needed for climb to Cuilcagh

Extra road safety barriers are needed on the steep climb up to Glan Gap and the start of the southern assent of Cuilcagh, the executive of Cavan County Council has been told.

The route is busy with traffic travelling west and is set to become ever more popular in the coming years with millions of euros being pumped into various tourism projects, such as the €10 million Shannon Pot Discovery Centre at Derrylahan.

The latter attraction will incorporate an immersive visitor exhibition and interpretive space, along with reception, café, retail shop, public amenities, and a new 500-metre walking trail, as well as new facilities installed at the nearby Cavan Burren Park.

Both Cavan Burren Park and the Shannon Pot are key sites in Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, an internationally recognised area, and the project is is expected to drive over €30 million visitor spend and attract over 600,000 visitors by 2036.

But concerns over road safety were raised at the February monthly meeting of Cavan Council Council, when Fianna Fáil’s John Paul Feeley sought commitment from the local authority regarding “specific funding to provide safety barriers on the R200 in Glan Gap”.

Aside from connecting the villages of Glan, Dowra and further west to the rest of the county, the R200 is widely used by people accessing scenic spots such as Tullydermot Falls, Maguire’s Chair, and the Altacullion scenic view point.

Cllr Feeley had raised the matter previously at Municipal District level, but such is its importance, the Blacklion elected representative pushed to have it added to the council agenda proper.

He accepted that funding for such a project isn’t there within the existing road budget resources.

There are, he said, several areas along the route where there are “significant fall offs” beyond the road verge. Other areas, meanwhile, have a “sheer drop off”.

There is an need urgent therefore for crash barriers to be provided “at some of the most dangerous locations”.

Between eight to 10 kilometres of safety barriers are needed, but first a comprehensive survey would need to take place as some roadsides simply do not have the “appropriate foundations” to hold a barrier in place.

“I’m asking that something can be done and that, in time, barriers can be constructed,” said Cllr Feeley. “We need to try to secure funding.”

His motion was seconded by party colleague Áine Smith, who said she was driving the road days’ previous and was struck by how “dangerous” some sections were.

There are no reflective lights, no cats eyes, and no central white line in parts, she remarked. “Definitely something needs to be done.”

There was also support for the motion from Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF).