T McWilliams Ltd and Ferrovial Agroman have been appointed as the main contractors for road works in Co Cavan involved with the N3 Butlersbridge to Belturbet Road Improvement Scheme.

The joint venture will comprise the construction of approximately 6.7 kilometres of standard single carriageway and includes a bypass of Belturbet town. The mainline is generally 7.3m wide with 2.5m wide hard shoulders 3m wide verges on each side.

According to the website www.unearthore.com the existing landscape of the area is characterised by drumlins with intervening areas of loughs and areas of very soft ground. Areas of very soft ground include Aghnaguig bog, Putiaghan bog and others.

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The Scheme passes in close proximity to Aghnaguig bog which is part of Lough Oughter & Associated Loughs candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) containing the Annex 1 habitat Bog Woodland.

Two significant bridge structures shall be provided as part of the proposed Scheme:

River Erne Bridge - this proposed bridge structure consists of a three span extrados bridge of prestressed and reinforced concrete construction. The proposed bridge is approximately 141m long between centreline of bearing at abutments and shall include a clear span (approximate length = 70m) across the River Erne.

Aghnaguig Bog Bridge - this proposed bridge shall be a three span bridge of minimum length 210m and shall mitigate the impact of the proposed Scheme on the bog woodland priority habitat in the townland of Aghnaguig.

Work is expected to commence on site during early May 2011 and the value of the scheme is in the region of €36 million. The contract period is 24 months.

(GK/BMcC)