Public meeting scheduled on Virginia bypass project
A meeting where members of the public will be invited to have their say on the proposed N3 Virginia bypass is to take place next month.
The two-day event at the Virginia Show Centre, March 11-12, is designed as an opportunity for the public to voice their opinions on the proposed critical piece of infrastructure; while also getting more information about the scheme, including initial findings and constraints.
The project is being driven by Cavan and Meath County Councils.
Potential lands identified for the new road take in an area stretching from the existing N3 dual carriageway north of Kells in Meath to the existing N3 north of Virginia Town in Cavan.
The area examined for its suitability to facilitate a bypass surrounds Lough Ramor and takes in landmasses bordering close to both Oldcastle and Ballyjamesduff, and to the opposite side nearing Mullagh and Killinkere.
Earlier this month, the council confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that the “preferred route” of the Virginia bypass, a key commitment for the region under the Government’s Ireland 2040 plan, could be identified as early as Spring next year.
The council’s previous bypass design, agreed as far back as 2003, was binned by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority (NRA).
The local authority was forced to return to the drawing board and reset the blueprint for the project, appointing JB Barry Transportation Ltd last year as technical advisors through scheme phases 1-4. This will include elements from route selection to environmental assessment and the statutory process that focuses on the compulsory purchase of land if needed.
This is expected to take at least three to three and a half years to complete.
JB Barry previously worked on the delivery of the section of the M3 Clonee to North of Kells, and M1 Northern Motorway.
The appointment of a multi-disciplinary consultancy team for phases 5-7 will be tendered at a later date.
New roles have also been created within Cavan County Council to get the project, which could cost as much as €130m to complete, over the line.
Some €600,000 was previously allocated to the project, and the upcoming public consultation will be the first of several by those who see the bypass as a vital cog in maintaining a “strategic radial corridor” linking Dublin with Cavan and Enniskillen, as well as beyond to Sligo and Letterkenny.
Virginia is the last remaining town on the N3 route from Dublin to the border with Northern Ireland not to be bypassed - the previous before this being Belturbet.
More information on the project is available at www.n3virginiabypass.ie and the Cavan County Council website.
Industrial park
The question was placed with the local authority in the context of the County Development Plan and the bypass’ importance in guiding future investment, including the development of an new enterprise and industrial park on an 81-acre greenfield site east of Virginia.
Progression of the industrial park plan was most recently catered for as part of the council’s approved three-year programme of capital investment for the county.
It’s envisaged that somewhere in the region of €2.1 million will be invested - with €100,000 in 2020 and €1m each in 2021 and 2022.
It was revealed previously that an unnamed US-based pet food company had examined the Burncarragh site in the past, and a Council spokesperson confirmed: “The location of [the industrial park] development will be influenced by the next County Development Plan and the preferred route for the proposed Virginia Bypass.”