Progress on roads in Cavan Belturbet MD

ROADWORKS Nine major projects targeted in 2023

A roadworks summary report was met with delight from councillors who declared “the wait is worth it”.

Members of the Cavan Belturbet Municipal District meeting were shown the Engineer's Report of Roadworks, which were completed in 2023. The report outlined improvement works on nine road projects in the district.

Five of the roads are reported as 100 per cent complete. These include the road at Tullyloughfin/Altachullion Upper, Bawnboy Errenan (Marsh Road), Drumerdannan to Derryvackney, Knockateery to Drumbawn and Tullynacross to Dunmakeever.

Addressing the meeting, Senior Executive Engineer, Paul Mulligan, told the group the road from Killeshandra to Milltown is “basically completed”, as lining on the road was the only outstanding job to be done.

The Cockhill Road, which runs from Dunnes Stores in Cavan Town to Gaelscoil Bhreifne is at a similar stage of completion with “the manholes and everything done,” explained Mr Mulligan.

At 70 percent complete, works on the road that runs from Latt to Keadew were postponed to cater for a road elsewhere where a closure notice had been issued.

The road at Doon, Ballyconnell, is considered as being 15% complete, with the council having commenced work there in recent weeks.

Mr Mulligan told the councillors that his workers will finish the work at Keadew and then return to Doon, rather than “too-ing and fro-ing” between both jobs.

Local improvement scheme

Under the local improvement scheme, Mr Mulligan said the completion of the road at Glencorran, Carrickaboy, is a “top class job". He added: "That’s a lifetime job.”

The stretch at Owenglass, Bawnboy, was also improved under this scheme. It is just awaiting the finishing touches at present.

Mr Mulligan also highlighted improvement works on roads at Barran in Blacklion and Tullyveela in Corlough.

The only road, which was covered under the Community Improvement Scheme, was the Corradeverrid to Corrdessogagh road under which the council have a partnership with Coillte.

Mr Mulligan made reference to the Loreto Road in Cavan Town where some councillors had been complaining about the footpath, which they described as overgrown and dirty.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Áine Smith told the group “it’s a great job” when a photo was displayed of the now clean footpath leading up to the girls secondary school.

A list of upcoming projects was also revealed to the group, including the completion of restoration improvement works at Ballyconnell and Keadu Lane; further local improvement projects; and measures under the Active Travel Scheme, which are almost complete in Ballyconnell and Killeshandra.

The R212 Former National Road Scheme is also upcoming, as well as works on the Trivia House in Swanlinbar under the Town and Village Scheme 2023.

The council also intends address as many urgent road issues highlighted by councillors as possible.

Each of the councillors present thanked the staff in the council's Road Department for their fantastic work throughout the year.

Cllr Smith added: “There’s a great bit of work being done. You only notice when you stop at a red light the amount of traffic” that runs through Cavan Town. Fine Gael Councillor Peter McVitty was also impressed by the works progressed. However he urged the council to improve signage in dangerous areas.