Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly (Independent).

Signage clean-up delayed by Covid

SPEED ‘Tragedy waiting to happen’ on roads adjacent to N3

Cavan County Council’s plans to refurbish signage across the county took a hit due to the Covid restrictions over the past 12 months.

That was the explanation given at the meeting of members elected to the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District area, on foot of a request from Independent Shane P O’Reilly who asked that an “audit” be conducted and cleaning carried out of all signage.

In a separate motion on the agenda, Cllr O’Reilly asked that the council consider placing so-called “speed limit repeater” signs on roads leaving from the N3.

The Mullagh-based representative, in particular, highlighted where traffic coming off the county’s primary artery often continued to drive at a worrying speed on the lesser regional and local road network.

Citing the N3 to Mullagh road and the road past Carrigabruise school from Maghera, Cllr O’Reilly said it was a “tragedy waiting to happen”.

Senior Executive Area Engineer John McGahern told the meeting that speed changes had been implemented nationwide last year on all roads outside urban areas. He outlined the fear that, if such signage was installed, it may present a “target” rather than a deterrent for some motorists on areas of the network that aren’t capable of handling such speeds. “Just because it is 80kmph it doesn’t mean they have to do that speed,” said the engineer, who noted that there is speed signage at every junction off the N3 already.

Pedestrian plan for Virginia

Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly asked about traffic entering Virginia, and Mr McGahern said that a proposed pedestrian safety plan, designs for which have been completed, is on the cards. He said it was never an issue of traffic travelling through the town at speed, especially at peak times when cars and lorries were effectively at a “standstill”. But rather, the concern was for pedestrian safety and that issue would hopefully be addressed as part of the impending investment.

Cllr TP O’Reilly asked too if a disabled parking bay and facilities could be added to the shore amenity at Lough Ramor. The councillor was told this would be looked at once the busy summer season had concluded.

Regarding the audit and cleaning of signage, Mr McGahern said some works had taken place with some cleaned and others replaced up until Covid hit.

The hope now is, once the council surmounted its busy summer work season, staff can be reassigned to examining signage concerns.

He added that verge cutting is also taking place along the N3. When Fine Gael’s Winston Bennett said “more was needed”, Mr McGahern replied that the cost of hiring additional contractors would be the equivalent of de-listing one of the roads listed for fixing. He noted that the cost of traffic management bore the brunt of the overall cost but accepted it was important that junctions remained clear.

Recruitments

The debate quickly then moved to the provision of staff in the Ballyjamesduff area, Cllr SP O’Reilly asking if replacements for retirements had been hired.

Mr McGahern said there was a HR process which needed to be strictly followed, but an issue had arisen where jobs were being offered and turned down by applicants.

It prompted Cllr S.P. O’Reilly to criticise the length of time it took to offer positions via the panel process. “It’s absolute nonsense,” he said.