€4.2M for Cootehill-Bboro MD roads

A massive €4,234,248 roads programme has been approved for the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District, with several of the area’s most heavily used roads pulled forward from future plans.

Three roads have been fast-tracked from the 2027 works programme, including Bridge Street and Cavan Road, from Main Street to Connolly’s Corner and out toward the Drumore Estate.

Senior Area Engineer Clinton Mulligan told councillors at their March 23 meeting in Cootehill that it is one of several roads that have “deteriorated substantially” since the three-year roads programme was agreed in 2025.

Covering approximately 335 metres, it will be mended using €176,000 from the council’s own coffers.

Also brought forward is phase one of works on the road known locally as ‘Mile Line’ road, running from the border towards Muff Cross at Drumbar-Corraneary (L3534/L3532), along with a stretch of the L7500 from the R165 Cavan-Bailieborough Road to Clifferna Road at Ardardagh.

The Mile Line project, covering 2.2km, is set to cost €571,800; while the L7500 works, spanning almost 1.7km, will require €472,693.

The decision to advance these projects mirrors a similar move made previously, when works were brought forward to strengthen the 2025 programme. The remainder of the 2026 roads programme will proceed as originally agreed.

That programme includes €840,471 to repair 2.2km of the R165 Cavan to Bailieborough road from Drumanespick to Tullywaltry; €374,807 for 1.7km of the L208 Dernakesh Road from Dernakesh Cross at Wedlocks toward the Latully Road Junction; and €482,228 for 2.2km of the L6116 Corraneary Road from Corraneary Cross towards Knockalosset.

Further investment will see a little over 3km of the L2005 Bracklagh Road (John Tully's Road) from Treehoo Cross to Drumherriff at Fays repaired at a cost of €638,184; while Phase 1 works on the L3552/3548 from Galbolie Cross to Dromore Road, covering nearly 1.8km, are expected to cost €522,902.

An additional €155,163 has been allocated for 510 metres of the L75781 from the R191 Kells Road to Gargans Cross at L7577.

In total, €4,234,248 will be spent on road repairs across the district, combining national funding with the council’s own resources.

Mr Mulligan explained that the focus of the 2026 programme is firmly on “restoration and repair”, noting that many of the roads listed have already consumed significant manpower and funding through patching, yet remain in “very poor condition” due to heavy usage and adverse weather. The aim, he said, is to properly stabilise these routes before conditions worsen further.

He described it as “positive” news that the council is in a position to include additional roads in the 2026 programme, even as pressures continue to mount.

The updated plan was broadly welcomed by councillors.

Cathaoirleach and Fine Gael representative Val Smith described it as a “good job” and a smart use of limited resources, while stressing that more funding is still needed. His party colleague Carmel Brady formally proposed adoption, with Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly seconding the approval.

Sinn Féin councillor Stiofán Conaty also welcomed the programme but said there are “one or two” additional roads he would like to see included should further funding become available from central government.

Concern remains over the overall condition of the local area's road network. Cllr Kelly warned that some routes remain in “terrible condition”, and said the cost of maintaining them is becoming a major challenge for the council.

Cllr Smith, while acknowledging the progress made, expressed frustration that weeks after councillors engaged with local Oireachtas members to seek additional support lobbying central government for more funding, there has been little response from the halls of Leinster House.

“I haven’t heard anything back. We’ll have to wait until the next meeting to see where we are,” he said.

Cllr Kelly went further, suggesting national representatives may not fully grasp the pressure facing local politicians.

“They’re lucky it’s not an election year,” he remarked. “I wouldn’t want to be going out to people’s doors with the condition the roads are in. People are very annoyed.”