Belturbet bypass to start in March 2011

The Cavan county manager Jack Keyes has told The Anglo-Celt that construction on the Belturbet bypass will begin this time next year, if not earlier. He made the announcement after Minister Brendan Smith confirmed that the €50m construction project has finally got the green light to proceed to tender stage. Mr. Keyes revealed that a detailed contract process involving pre-tendering and the assessment of contractors normally takes about a year to carry out but the local authority is "trying to expedite it". The project has been 15 years getting to this stage with consultants having been appointed in 1995. "This is a major step forward," said Mr. Keyes. "All the land has been purchased and ancillary works will be finalised this year," he added. "It's still subject to government funding next year, there's always that little caveat," said the county manager before adding that he's confident the project will proceed. It's expected that the construction of the road will take about three years to compete with an expected opening date in early 2014. Mr. Keyes said that the construction of the 7km bypass is "very significant" from both an infrastructural and safety point of view. There have been nine fatalities on the existing Butlersbridge to Belturbet road over the last nine years.The county manager also emphasised the economic benefits of the project. "This is the biggest infrastructural project approved here in the last decade... There is huge potential work for sub-contractors, quarries, concrete people and it's all so badly needed at the moment. It couldn't come at a better time for us," commented Mr. Keyes, who also complimented Minister Brendan Smith, Oireachtas members and all elected representatives for their "collective" approach in getting the project over the line. Members of Belturbet Town Council, as well as county councillors have been campaigning for years for the bypass. Already, €15 million has been spent on the project, which has allowed considerable ancillary work to be undertaken. Commenting on the latest development, Minister Brendan Smith said: "The securing of a further €3.2 million allocation this year under the national roads programme has been a key factor in finally moving the 7km road to the construction stage." Noting that some had doubted if the project would ever reach this stage, Minister Smith said that with the necessary funding now in place, the people of Belturbet and those using this part of the N3, could look forward to one of the most important landmark transport projects in Cavan getting underway. The Fianna Fáil TD complimented Jack Keyes for his strong support for the project and the members of Cavan County Council.