Dual carriageway demand for Cavan as new M3 opens

The opening of the M3 motorway has created renewed impetus for the upgrading of the N3 from Whitegate to Cavan to dual carriageway standard. That is the view of Cavan County Council who welcome the new motorway from Dublin to the county border, which they say will bring immeasurable benefits to the county in both commercial and tourism terms. Last Friday was a red letter day for this region with the opening of the new M3 motorway. The new €1 billion public-private project cuts the travel time from Cavan to Dublin by one hour and greatly enhances the standing of the county. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, TD, said that the new road will bring reduced transport costs and journey times, boosting the competitiveness and efficiencies of businesses. However, Bailieborough Fine Gael county councillor, Sean McKiernan, is aggrieved at what he perceives as a snub to councillors from County Cavan by the organisers by not inviting them to the opening ceremony. It is understood that Cavan County Manager, Jack Keyes, was one of the invited guests as well as the vice chairman of Cavan County Council, Paddy Smith. A spokesman for the National Roads Authority (NRA), Sean O'Neill, said that any omission of Cavan County Councillors on the guest list must have been a clerical error. Mullagh councillor, Shane P. O'Reilly, takes issue with Sean McKiernan's complaints about Cavan councillors not being invited to the opening ceremony. "I couldn't give a damn whether I was invited or not; it is one of the greatest days in the history of the area; it is a fantastic road and will be there when we are all gone," he said. "One of the most historic days in County Meath" was how Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, described Friday's opening, adding his regret that it hadn't been undertaken years ago. The opening of the new motorway follows a decade of controversy, bitter rows and legal challenges to the route through the historic Tara-Skryne valley. According to the NRA, the new motorway is already a huge success. Asked about the likely build up of traffic in Virginia, the NRA's Sean O'Neill acknowledged that the provision of a bypass for this rapidly expanding Cavan town was necessary but the time frame in which it could be delivered depended on the availability of funding. Virginia county councillor, Paddy O'Reilly, confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that he has submitted a motion for the forthcoming meeting of the council calling on the government and the NRA to fast forward the Virginia bypass in light of the increased traffic pressure, which is to come on the town. He claimed that at times over the bank holiday weekend, there was a back up of traffic out to the Lakeside Manor. However, he wasn't sure if this was due to the heavier bank holiday traffic or if it would be the norm. "This week will tell the tale," he said.