By Sean Moriarty

Hopes of a new pedestrian crossing on Mission Road have been put on the long finger by Kerry County Council.

There have been repeated calls by elected councillors to construct such a crossing to allow pedestrians safe access to Killarney House from the New St and Beech Road car parks.

At the most recent Killarney Municipal District meeting Cllr John O’Donoghue asked if: “there a reasonable possibility that by next summer there will be a pedestrian crossing on Mission Road?”

A Kerry Council official confirmed that a traffic count had been conducted in the area and that the count had determined a need for a pedestrian crossing.

However, construction will not begin on the crossing until works to realign the Muckross Road, the Haha and East Avenue junction are completed.

Plans for that project are expected to be revealed next month or in the early part of 2022.

“Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have informed the Council that the exact location of any proposed pedestrian crossing would be considered by them after the construction of the Muckross Road and Haha Safety Scheme has been completed,” said the official.

“The present situation is very dangerous for all but especially so for older people and for people with disability,” Cllr O’Donoghue added.