€1.5M for works on Monaghan to Clones Road

Works are planned to greatly improve pedestrian and traffic movement on the Monaghan-Clones road and address drainage issues in the location.

Measures approved at Monday’s meeting of Monaghan County Council include diverting watercourses in the area to allow for drainage and pavement works along the N54 and the introduction of better facilities for pedestrians. An embankment will also be reconstructed.

Senior Executive Planner Toirleach Gourley said that subsidence and cracking have taken place on the side of the road. The works, to extend for approximately 533 metres, will result in the strengthening of the road and the improvement of drainage.

Proposing the approval of the works, Cllr Pat Treanor (SF) said that around 30 or 40 years ago this road used to split in the middle because it was built on a bog. There had been a history of flooding in the area but the former Clones Town Council had spent around €700,000 on flood relief measures.

Cllr Treanor sought an explanation for a reference to “stream diversion” in the report on the project, stating that this “raises a bit of a red flag”.

Mr Gourley said that it's proposed that a shuck in the area be relocated so a buffer can be created to strengthen the road. It will be more a redirection that a diversion, he added.

Referring to the €1.5M cost of the project, Cllr Treanor said that €1M was the figure allocated in the capital programme for these works over recent years.

The executive explained that the technique used to solve the problems in the area has changed and there is a fibre optic cable that must be redirected. This design and construction issue has increased the price.

Seconding the approval, Cllr Richard Truell (FG) said conversations had started on these works in 2018 and he believed they will lead to significant upgrading of both the road and footpath in this area.

Cllr Sean Gilliland also expressed support for the project, which was approved unanimously.