Progress on park and ride for Whitegate

“Brilliant news indeed,” welcomed Cllr Shane P O’Reilly (Independent Ireland) in response to an update on the status of park and ride development on the N3 at Whitegate cross, east of Virginia.

Area manager, John Donohoe, confirmed at the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District meeting that Cavan County Council had secured funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for a park and ride area near Maghera. The local authority, assisted by TII, is in the process of site identification and acquisition to build an appropriate facility.

Currently, each weekday morning, a makeshift carpark, located at the busstop in the Dublin direction, completely fills with cars; while the overflow of traffic parks on the hard shoulder each side of the stop, as well as around the corner on to the Mullagh Road. Cars parked here often obstruct the road or create blind spots, impeding a safe flow of traffic.

The situation has provoked much criticism over the years, with calls for better facilities in the interests of safety and even a public demonstration/protest on the matter.

The councillors welcomed the progress. “We have put this issue on the agenda so many times,” said Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly reiterating that the drop off and pick off area for school buses is dangerous. “I don’t know how nobody has been killed.”

Fine Gael’s T.P. O’Reilly said he was glad the TII is pursuing this and asked that plans for a Virginia bypass do not delay the development of the proposed park and ride.

He highlighted how buses often cannot stop at the dedicated bus stop due to parked cars. This means they sometimes are forced to stop in the middle of the road to allow passengers on and off, creating further dangers.

Mr Donohoe added that, in the meantime, Cavan County Council in conjunction with the Gardaí and Bus Éireann have developed a non-park-area for school buses with line-markings and signs to ensure a safer drop-off for children. This was progress in the right direction the councillors agreed.