Submissions open on next phase of N55 Realignment

Cavan County Council is to tackle what has been described as “one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country”, writes Thomas Lyons.

The local authority has given notice of its intention to construct a new realigned section of public road on the N55 from Corduff to south of Killydoon.

This is the latest phase of the improvement programme on the national secondary road. Local councillor Philip Brady (FF) said that the project is very necessary: “It is one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country between Corduff Cross and Ballintrust. It is great to see it about to start after years of campaigning. It is definitely welcomed by the people of the area.”
He revealed that the next phase of the project will involve bypassing Killydoon. 'It stops this side of Ballintrust. The plans for this phase have been ongoing for a long number of years. The Killydoon portion of the scheme could be years away,” remarked Cllr Brady.
Cavan County Council posted a notice on its website regarding the planning for Section B of the realignment scheme, which will affect a number of landowners and businesses in the Loughduff area.
“Land owners in the area are aware of the project. They have all been approached. We have campaigned for years to have this work undertaken. Lorries and cars have to stop on sections of the road when they meet. There is no other main road in the country like it. It is vital that it is done,” Cllr Brady added.
The €4.5m project is for the realignment of the N55 national secondary route in the townlands of Ballytrust, Ballytrust Lower, Legwee, Drumcor, Killydoon, Drumbannow, Grousehall and Mullaghoran comprising the construction of 3.75km of single carriageway road from Ballytrust.
The notice says that the scheme will typically consist of a seven-metre wide single carriageway road, with a half metre wide hard strip and three metre wide verges on both sides.
There are several parts to the overall realignment programme. It includes a new section of link road that will connect the existing N55 to the new N55 in the townland of Ballytrust. A section of the existing N55 will be retained to service properties and local road L-6591. A new section of link road will connect the existing N55 to the new N55 in the townlands of Killydoon and Drumcor.
A section of the existing N55 will be retained to service properties and local roads L-25151 and L-25152. A ghost island staggered junction will be provided at the junction of the N55 with the local road L-2515 to Loughduff. Two new sections of link road will connect the village of Killydoon to the new N55. A new link road will have a junction to the north of the village in the townland of Killydoon, while link road will be accessed via a new ghost island junction south of the village in the townland of Grousehall.

 

Submissions open

Drawings and particulars of the proposed development will be available for inspection, and purchased at a fee of €10, from Cavan County Council, Planning Section, the Johnston Library, Farnham Street, Cavan and Cavan County Council, Ballyjamesduff Municipal District Area, Main Street, Virginia.
Submissions or observations by the public on the proposed development can be made to The Director of Services, Roads and Infrastructure, Joe McLoughlin, in writing not later than Thursday, June 22, at 4pm.