Changes to N3 at Dublin Road roundabout in county town

Proposals for changes to the N3 entrance to Cavan Town from the Dublin side are under consideration by Cavan County Council with the local authority seeking feedback from the public on the plans.

The project will see the county council work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to upgrade the N3 on the outskirts of Cavan Town. The stretch of road runs between the Cavan Crystal Hotel and the Kilmore Roundabout at Pullamore Far.

Two options are under consideration. The proposals includes pedestrian crossing, kerbed grassed medians to calm traffic, extending footpath, taking the cycle track off the road in places, reconfiguration of the carriageway lanes, and the suggestion of changing the roundabout to a junction box.

“All the property owners in the estate about came together on Friday night for a meeting about the plans,” Pauric Rudden said of the reaction of local businesses in the Kilmore Business Park to the council’s proposals.

This project consists of two separately-funded schemes. The first is the N3 Dublin Rd Roundabout and the second the N3 Cavan Crystal to Kilmore Roundabout Safety Improvement Scheme. Both plans alter the lay out of the Dublin Road approach to Cavan. One of the major differences between the two options is that one retains the existing roundabout, while the other intends to change it to a traffic light regulated junction.

Mr Rudden said Friday’s meeting discussed aspects of the proposals: “We looked at what was going to impact us here in the business park, the entrance and exit plans. We don’t see the narrowing of the entrances to the business park as a good idea. We are in favour of a left turn only as the exit option.”

The business owner said one particular objection was voiced at the gathering: “The feeling at the meeting was that changing the roundabout to a traffic light system would be a bad idea. There can be a bit of queue going into town on a Friday evening, but the introduction of a filter road should sort that problem out to a certain extent.”

Cavan County Council commissioned RPS Consulting Engineers to develop the project through the options phase. The N3 is of strategic importance as it connects Dublin with Cavan and the entire northwest, and carries significant volumes of commuter traffic.

The road also provides a significant link for all users between Cavan Town and the various businesses and industries along this section of the N3. The existing N3 Dublin Road Roundabout junction experiences significant peak-time traffic congestion issues, which can also lead to potential safety issues due to driver frustration and dangerous manoeuvres.

The plan identifies the protection of vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) as a key consideration. It says the existing junction is sub-standard and poses “safety concerns”. Similarly, the existing vulnerable road user facilities along the N3 and R212 are described as “sub-standard and potentially unsafe for all road users”.

Cavan County Council has invited residents of the local area, members of the public and all interested parties to participate in a public consultation on the Options Selection, Study Area and Constraints for the N3 Dublin Road Roundabout Scheme and the N3 Cavan Crystal to Kilmore Roundabout Safety Scheme.

A copy of the scheme information will also be on display in the window of the Johnston Library in Cavan Town for the duration of this Public Consultation period.

The local authority say that due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, it is not possible to arrange a formal event in the local area at this time. Instead the Cavan County Council project webpage contains all the information that would normally be displayed at such an event.

The Scheme Information and Options Drawings are available to view on the council’s webpage.